The UK government is considering a significant reduction in its electric vehicle sales target for 2030 following pressure from car manufacturers over demand, costs and the pace of the transition.

Under the current Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, carmakers must ensure that an increasing proportion of their annual new-car sales are zero-emission vehicles. The target stands at 33% in 2026 and is scheduled to rise to 80% by 2030 before reaching 100% in 2035.

Several Options Are Being Considered

A government consultation launched on 14 August 2026 sets out four possible pathways for the mandate. Three would reduce the 2030 target while retaining the 2035 endpoint, with the lowest option bringing the requirement down to 50%.

A fourth option would keep the existing trajectory but introduce additional flexibility to help manufacturers meet their obligations. The review comes amid concerns about supply-chain disruption, tariff uncertainty and wider economic pressures affecting the automotive industry.

The current mandate was introduced in 2024 as part of the UK’s effort to accelerate the shift away from conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.

Industry Wants More Flexibility

Car manufacturers have argued that the existing timetable is difficult to meet because consumer demand for electric vehicles has not grown quickly enough.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has called for the mandate to be reviewed, pointing to high energy costs, incomplete charging infrastructure and weak consumer confidence. Manufacturers have also been offering substantial discounts on electric models in an effort to stimulate demand.

The government has already made technical changes to the policy to give manufacturers more flexibility. The latest consultation could lead to a more substantial revision of the annual targets.

EV Sales Continue to Grow

Despite industry concerns, electric vehicle registrations are still increasing.

Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 27.4% of new-car registrations in July 2026. New AutoMotive, which published the figures, said the market was effectively ahead of the level required for compliance once the existing flexibility mechanisms within the mandate were taken into account.

That figure remains below the headline 33% target for 2026, but manufacturers can use credits and other mechanisms within the scheme to meet their overall obligations.

The 2035 Goal Remains

The longer-term objective has not changed. All new cars are still expected to be zero-emission by 2035, even if the required share for 2030 is reduced.

The debate therefore centres on how quickly the market should move towards that final goal. Supporters of a slower timetable argue that manufacturers need more time to adapt to economic pressures and uneven consumer demand. Critics, however, warn that weaker interim targets could slow investment in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

The consultation marks an important moment for Britain’s automotive policy. Any reduction in the 2030 target would give manufacturers greater short-term flexibility, while the government would still need to demonstrate that the revised pathway can deliver a fully zero-emission new-car market by 2035.