Electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for a record 24.9% of the new car market in June, despite relaxed quotas on sales being implemented by the government earlier this year.
In April, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that while the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 would be maintained, manufacturers would be able to sell hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius and Nissan e-Power, until 2035. They would also not be obliged to sell as many EVs in the earlier part of the transition.
The New AutoMotive think tank said it expects car makers will be able to “comfortably exceed” existing mandates this year, putting into question why the government decided to change the targets.
The headline target for car makers is that 28% of total sales should come from EVs in 2025. But firms are able to generate additional credits to meet the target by exceeding CO2 emissions targets on their petrol and diesel vehicle sales. New Automotive therefore calculates that the real target is more...