The UK car industry has repeatedly claimed that there is a significant gap between expected electric vehicle (EV) sales and government-set targets. However, analysis shows that the industry has met or exceeded these targets when existing flexibilities under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate are taken into account.
In 2026, the headline ZEV target is set at 33%, but due to flexibilities, this can be achieved even if EVs make up around 25% of sales. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) expects EVs to reach about 27% of new car sales in 2026, comfortably ahead of the adjusted target.
The industry continues to call for a review of the ZEV mandate, arguing that natural demand is not growing fast enough. However, this messaging often omits mention of existing flexibilities and recent trends showing EVs becoming cheaper than petrol cars on average.
In April 2026, car sales platform Autotrader announced that new EVs are now cheaper to buy than petrol cars for the first time, while already being significantly cheaper to own. The government has pledged to review the ZEV mandate with results due in early 2
Read the full article at Carbon Brief
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