ZEV Mandate: What It Means for Car Buyers

The Government is reviewing the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate - the rules that set annual targets for the share of new cars and vans manufacturers must sell as zero-emission. A public consultation is open until 23 October 2026, brought forward more than a year from its originally planned 2027 date. Under the current rules, 33% of new cars sold in 2026 must be zero-emission, rising to 80% by 2030; for vans the figures are 24% rising to 70%. So far this year, battery electric cars account for 25.6% of new registrations - moving in the right direction, but short of the 2026 headline target. The review, launched in mid-August according to the Zemo Partnership, will examine whether the annual sales trajectories between 2027 and 2035 remain appropriate. It will also look at the flexibilities manufacturers can use to meet targets, such as trading and banking allowances, and at what the Government calls the "PHEV loophole" - the way fast-growing plug-in hybrid sales can be used to offset zero-emission targets through a "utility factor" calculation, potentially eroding the expected carbon savings. Crucially, ministers have stressed that the end goals are not up for debate: new petrol and diesel cars will still be phased out from 2030, and all new cars and vans are expected to be zero emission by 2035. Some reports have suggested the 2030 headline target could be lowered - possibly as low as 50% for cars - but the Government has not confirmed any new figures. Industry reaction has been mixed. The SMMT has welcomed the review, arguing targets must be grounded in the reality of consumer demand and warning that thousands of jobs are at risk under the current trajectory. Charge point operators, meanwhile, fear that watering down the targets could slow investment in the public charging network, particularly at less busy sites away from main routes, according to GreenCarGuide. The backdrop is a market moving quickly regardless of the politics. The UK reached 121,171 public charging devices as of 1 July, including 28,887 rapid or ultra-rapid chargers. Used electric car sales are surging too - 110,761 used battery electric cars changed hands in the second quarter, up 67% year on year, taking a record 5.5% share of the used market. What it means for UK drivers: whatever the review decides, the direction of travel is unchanged - electric cars will keep getting cheaper and more numerous. If targets are eased, manufacturers may face less pressure to discount electric models, but buyers would still benefit from growing choice. If targets are kept, expect continued deals as brands chase their quotas. The consultation closes on 23 October, and its outcome will shape the UK car market for years to come.

ZEV Mandate Review: What the Government Rethink Could Mean for Car Buyers