Under the current Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, manufacturers are expected to steadily increase the proportion of battery-electric cars they sell. The system was designed to push the market toward zero-emission vehicles well before all new cars and vans are required to be zero emission in 2035.

Now, policymakers are considering whether the existing timetable is moving faster than consumers and manufacturers can realistically manage.

The 2030 Target Could Fall

Current rules point toward 80% of new cars sold by manufacturers being zero emission by 2030.

One option under consideration would reduce that figure to around 60%.

The government could also give manufacturers more flexibility in how they meet annual targets, allowing them to use credits or compensate for lower EV sales over a longer period.

No final change has yet been confirmed, meaning the existing targets remain in force for now.

Importantly, the broader phase-out timetable is not expected to disappear. New cars powered solely by petrol or diesel are still due to be phased out from 2030, while all new cars and vans are expected to be zero emission by 2035.

EV Demand Is Below The Target

The debate has intensified because electric-car sales are growing, but not quickly enough to match the mandate’s current trajectory.

Battery-electric cars represented about 26.6% of UK new-car registrations during 2026 so far.

The mandate target for the year is 33%.

Manufacturers can already use several mechanisms to avoid penalties when they fall short, including borrowing allowances from future years and trading credits with companies that exceed their requirements.

The review is examining whether those mechanisms should remain available for longer.

Carmakers Want More Flexibility

Automotive manufacturers argue that regulation alone cannot force consumers to buy electric cars.

Purchase prices remain relatively high for some models, while drivers without home charging can face significantly higher electricity costs when relying on public chargers.

Companies have also faced supply-chain disruption and uncertainty around battery costs and residual values.

Industry groups argue that targets need to follow real consumer demand more closely, rather than forcing manufacturers to offer increasingly large discounts simply to meet regulatory quotas.

Environmental Groups See A Risk

Any weakening of the mandate is likely to face opposition from environmental organizations.

They argue that predictable targets encourage manufacturers to introduce more affordable electric cars and give charging companies confidence to invest in infrastructure.

Changing the timetable repeatedly could have the opposite effect by creating uncertainty about future demand.

There is also concern that slower EV adoption would make transport emissions harder to reduce.

Consumers Are Part Of The Problem

Britain’s EV market is increasingly divided between company-car buyers and private motorists.

Tax incentives have made electric models particularly attractive for businesses and company-car users, but private demand has been weaker.

For many households, the decision still depends on purchase price, charging availability, insurance costs and confidence in battery longevity.

That means government policy increasingly needs to address demand as well as supply.

The Destination Has Not Changed

The current debate is therefore less about abandoning electric vehicles than about adjusting the speed of the transition.

Britain still intends to move away from conventional petrol and diesel cars, but policymakers are under growing pressure to make the pathway more achievable for manufacturers and consumers.

Whether reducing the 2030 requirement would help that transition or simply delay it will depend on the final rules — and on how quickly electric cars become an easier choice for ordinary drivers.