The Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Mike Hawes has criticised those who claim the ZEV Mandate is working.
In a comment piece, Hawes said electric vehicle growth was “moving in the right direction”, but claiming the ZEV Mandate was working “ignores the reality facing those expected to deliver it”.
He said that the Mandate “compels supply; it cannot create demand”, claiming that underlying demand was around 10-13% of registrations.
On the issue of flexibilities on the Mandate, which are often used by those in favour of keeping the policy as it is – and that it is on target – Hawes claimed that the payments were “expensive ones” and “undermining competitiveness and viability”.
He added that it “creates perverse outcomes” with those moving “earliest to decarbonise” being the manufacturers that were “facing tougher requirements than newer entrants”.
In addition, he said that manufacturers were spending billions on discounts, finance incentives and marketing support to stimulate demand “beyond its natural level”.
Hawes said:
“That’s why claims – inevitably made by those detached from the commercial realities of building and selling vehicles – that manufacturers can comfortably comply through flexibilities create a false narrative. No one understands their markets better than manufacturers and their dealer networks.
“The reality is that not a single manufacturer – UK-based or importing, in credit or not – believes the regulated 2030 target of 80% is on track, let alone the 95% the Committee for Climate Change suggests is achievable for both cars and vans.”
The SMMT said that “urgent reform” of the Mandate was needed, and also said that public charging infrastructure was not being built “fast or evenly enough”.
Hawes called for the UK Government, industry, energy and charging sectors to “work together to ensure a just transition that is affordable and supports investment in UK automotive manufacturing.”
The news comes as the UK reached record growth of electric vehicles in July, leading to more than 25% in the year to-date, and significant growth in the electric van market.
Some individual manufacturers have also seen significant rises in their share of EVs, considerably above Mandate levels. Renault, for example, has seen electric vehicle sales increase by 123% year-on-year, with the segment securing 53% of its share of its total monthly sales by mid-2026.
Image courtesy of Green Car Guide
