The story of the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is a timeline of bold ambition meeting powerful industrial resistance. Initially lauded as a decisive step, the policy has been significantly altered within just a few years of its conception.
First came the ambition: the government announced a mandate to compel a rapid, year-on-year increase in EV sales, aiming to end the sale of new petrol cars. This was positioned as a key pillar of the UK’s Net Zero strategy.
Next came the first test: the 2024 targets. Data showed that every single manufacturer, despite their later protestations, successfully met their initial sales quotas, with EV market share climbing to over a fifth. Proponents declared it an early success.
Then came the backlash. A coordinated lobbying effort, revealed in newly obtained documents, saw the industry warn of “de-industrialisation.” Finally, in April, came the retreat, as the government introduced “flexibilities,” slowing the policy’s trajectory. This timeline serves as a case study in the challenges of long-term environmental policymaking.