Forrester urges U-turn on ZEV Mandate and 2030
16 December 2024
Vertu CEO Robert Forrester says the ZEV Mandate and 2030 ICE ban are “wreaking havoc in the motor sector”. In an op-ed last week, he said manufacturers are “exasperated” by the UK stepping out of line from the EU and US 2035 EV deadline.
Ministers have been “caught in the headlights of their own policy and Labour has “doubled down on the wrong policy”. Vertu leads the sector in the number of EVs it sells, he said, but “it is still nowhere near the government’s arbitrary targets”.
Ministers, he added, have only talked to OEMs and have “spurned all my requests for a meeting to explain the consequences for your neighbourhood car dealer”.
Forrester wants the government to, at least, align with the EU on policy. “Let the market decide, based on consumer’’ preferences – so when cheap EVs are available and charging challenges have been sorted, the consumer will buy them en masse.
“Ministers need to apply the brakes and U-turn before they run out of road and destroy the UK’s car industry for good.”
It is understood a consultation on the ZEV Mandate will be announced this week. Ministers are unlikely to change the headline targes but are open to the idea of “flexibilities”.
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