After a successful lobbying campaign by carmakers, fears are growing that the UK’s electric vehicle mandate is now significantly weaker than its European Union equivalent, potentially putting the nation at a competitive disadvantage in the green tech race.
A key argument used by manufacturers like BMW was that the original UK mandate was “much more radical and far-reaching” than the one in the EU. They successfully lobbied for the UK rules to be relaxed, bringing them more in line with a slower pace of transition.
However, environmental and policy analysts argue that this is a step backwards. They contend that by having a more ambitious mandate, the UK was positioning itself as a leader, attracting investment in EV technology and securing a larger share of the future automotive market.
Now, with a less demanding policy, the UK risks becoming a market where manufacturers can sell a higher proportion of their less-advanced petrol cars. Critics worry this not only harms the environment but also signals to global investors that the UK is less committed to the future of transport, potentially driving R&D and manufacturing investment to the EU instead.
56