UK carmakers on track to meet EV sales target despite the intense lobbying push to lower quota | Automotive industry

Motor manufacturers are on the right track to achieve the sales targets of existing British electric cars, although they have managed to put pressure on the government to water them.

Sales of electric cars represented 21.6% of sales in the first half of 2025, only below 22.06% necessary to comply with the existing rules once the concessions are taken into account, according to an analysis of New Automotive, a Thinktank.

The conservative government under Rishi Sunak introduced the term of the zero emission vehicle (ZEV). He forced car manufacturers to sell a growing proportion of electric cars or to cope with steep fines of up to £ 15,000 for each vehicle above their fossil fuel quota.

However, in April, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds confirmed that the Labor government would relax the rules after an intensive lobbying campaign in the British automotive industry against politics.

The manufacturer of Vauxhall Stellantis blamed his decision to close his Luton Van factory on the mandate, although the previous comments of the leaders seemed to undermine this argument.

Car manufacturers are targeting a title objective of 28% of electricity sales to avoid fines this year, but “flexibilities” in the rules mean that the effective objective – as calculated by the new automobile – is much lower.

Indeed, manufacturers are authorized to borrow electric sales from the following years and to gain credit for the reduction of emissions by selling more hybrids. After the rise of the government, manufacturers must have more freedom on how they achieve their annual objectives and face lower fines.

Ben Nelmes, managing director of New Automotive, said: “Car manufacturers are at a distance from their objectives for 2025 before taking into account the government’s decision to weaken this year’s objectives.

“This impressive progress should reassure ministers that ambitious targets stimulate innovation and dynamism that the United Kingdom needs to reach a net zero and move forward in the global transition to electric vehicles.”

The weakening of the rules could benefit from car manufacturers in particular. The analysis of New Automotive suggests that the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan is the furthest of what to achieve in 2025, because it awaits its factory in Sunderland in the north of England to start the production of its new electric car.

Toyota and JLR, manufacturer of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, are also well behind their effective targets.

The decision to weaken the objectives should mean significant additional carbon emissions, despite the government’s assertions that the impact would be “negligible”.

The director general of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mike Hawes, said that with a new car buyer out of four choosing an electric vehicle last month, the market progressed “but not at the necessary rate”.

“Title figures believe that only 13% of private buyers have become entirely electric this year, with growth motivated by fleets that benefit from convincing tax incentives,” said Hawes.

“The lack of natural demand among private consumers has forced manufacturers to unsustainable updating and led them to seek increased regulatory flexibilities to avoid the double blow to have to encourage sales and pay punitive fines.”

The British were suspicious of becoming electric for a number of reasons, including higher vehicle costs and a range of public and expensive and costly load points, said Hawes, adding: “The best way to encourage drivers to exchange in their older and more polluting vehicles for new zero emissions.”