Labour expected to cut EV targets for UK’s car industry despite MPs’ protests

Louise Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, will finalise the plan after a crunch meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday to settle a dispute between transport, energy and business departments. The decision will be made just as Andy Burnham prepares to travel to his first Cop summit as prime minister, where he and the foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, will champion electrification on a global scale.

With some MPs already upset by decisions to approve the Jackdaw gasfield and cut funding for green schemes to pay for higher defence spending, many see the upcoming decisions on the Rosebank oilfield and the EV mandate as critically important.

MPs voice concerns

Lizzi Collinge, the Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, emphasized the climate impact of the decision: "The upcoming decision on the ZEV [zero emission vehicle] mandate will have a huge climate impact, possibly the biggest one that's on the PM's desk. But it will also set the direction for tackling the cost of living and helping get our energy prices down over the coming decade."

Catherine Fookes, the MP for Monmouthshire, added: "The government has some incredibly difficult decisions to make in the coming months and the prime minister will need to weigh up the consequences of each. We need the ZEV mandate to stay, and Rosebank to be rejected."

Government defends stance

A government spokesperson stated: "The government is united in its commitment to the ZEV mandate and no decisions have been taken. We are committed to the phaseout of all new cars relying solely on petrol and diesel engines by 2030, and to 100% of new car and van sales being zero emission by 2035, and our legally binding net zero targets."

Under current rules brought in by the last Conservative government, carmakers must ensure they only sell EVs by 2035, gradually increasing the proportion to 80% by 2030. The policy is expected to create greater emissions savings than any other, leading to nearly 14% of all the reductions the UK has pledged between 2028 and 2032.

Industry warnings

Industry figures have warned that investment in charging infrastructure is at risk if the government's plans change further. Carmakers have argued that interim targets are unattainable due to higher inflation and living cost pressures.

Mike Hawes, SMMT's chief executive, said: The gap between demand and mandated targets continues to widen. Meaningingful change to the trajectory, alongside expanded flexibilities throughout the regulation, is essential to bridge that gap, safeguard jobs and investment while keeping the UK's zero emission transition on track.