Britain’s zero emission transition continues to accelerate, thanks to the automotive industry’s cast-iron commitment to help deliver the nation’s net zero ambitions. Billions have been invested to bring a massive 130-plus ZEV model choices in every shape and size and, on average, capable of driving almost 300 miles on a single charge – helping make zero emission mobility realistic and achievable for all.
Demand for EVs is growing. However, a tenfold increase in five years – from 37,850 buyers in 2020, to 381,970 in 2024 – has only been possible because vehicle manufacturers have shouldered colossal costs in designing, developing, producing and subsidising their sale.
That sale is now governed by the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, which compels each manufacturer to ensure a minimum proportion of their new vehicle sales are zero emission. However, market share can only be delivered if demand is there – and new research suggests that just 23.1% of new car buyers will go electric in the next three years, whereas the target for this year alone is 28%. The automotive sector cannot afford to deliver the world’s most ambitious transition single-handedly. The industry wants to meet the ZEV market share targets mandated by government – but if the numbers aren’t there, meeting that target would mean a smaller overall market with commensurately smaller volumes of ZEVs. That is in no-one’s interest. Success depends on increasing demand – increasing volume.
The UK’s EV market does not operate in a vacuum. It sustains many other industries that are essential to EV uptake, supporting the UK economy and keeping Britain on the move while cutting carbon. A robust new vehicle market drives growth for multiple stakeholders whose success depends on volume not percentages. We’re in this together: supply chains, the used vehicle market, chargepoint manufacturers and network operators, electricity suppliers and distributors, vehicle maintenance providers, the insurance sector – all depend on vehicle volumes for success. Strong markets also promote strong manufacturing. So we need measures that increase demand from every user segment, which will, in turn, deliver larger overall volumes. With the right support from government, there would be a 15% increase in zero emission car uptake above what’s currently expected – and surely, that’s better for everyone?
Prioritising volume will deliver economic growth for all stakeholders. It also means greater and faster decarbonisation – the entire point of this transition. Three years of EV incentives, putting more than two million new EVs on the road, would cut CO2 emissions by more than six megatonnes a year – equivalent to one sixth of annual UK aviation emissions. Real decarbonisation, and real growth. Plus, the greater investment this would lead to in infrastructure, depot chargers and grid connections would ultimately also help accelerate the transition in other sectors – such as the LCV market, where decarbonisation is set for 2035, and the HGB, bus and coach industries.
To deliver change, every sector should recognise that what matters is new vehicle market growth, not notional target achievement. And that cannot be delivered by mandating manufacturers to supply, without action from all sectors to address the lack of demand.
With every sector playing its part in supporting volume, rather than merely chasing market share, every sector stands to benefit. We’re in this together – and none of us can afford to fail
