Despite a fierce attack from the auto industry, climate campaigners have defended the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate as a “powerful driver of change” that was successfully decarbonising transport. They point to the industry’s own compliance with 2024 targets as definitive proof.
Ben Nelmes, chief executive of New Automotive, argued that the policy was working as intended. “The car industry’s own consultation responses confirm that the ZEV mandate’s 2024 targets were met,” he stated, suggesting the industry is more than capable of rising to the challenge.
From this perspective, the carmakers’ lobbying campaign, which warned of job losses and unsustainable costs, was an attempt to roll back an effective but challenging piece of legislation. Campaigners believe the government should have focused on building on this success rather than yielding to industry pressure.
The episode highlights the two opposing views of the mandate: the industry saw it as a punitive and rigid burden, while its advocates saw it as a necessary and effective tool. The government’s decision to weaken it marks a clear victory for the former interpretation.