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The UK government is expected to drop its target for electric vehicle sales after pressure from the industry over feared job losses, according to reports. The zero emission vehicle mandate’s requirement that 80% of new car sales are of all-electric models by 2030 is to be reduced to 50%, The Sunday Times reported. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is understood to have overruled energy secretary Ed Miliband after pressure from industry, the Unite union and Business Secretary Peter Kyle, the newspaper said. The Labour government had pledged to outlaw sales of new fully petrol or diesel cars and vans from 2030, with only zero-emission models which generally means pure electrics permitted to be bought from 2035. The Zev mandate set headline targets for the proportion of new cars sold by each manufacturer that are zero-emission, which generally means pure battery electric. In 2024, the first year of the scheme, the figure was 22%, and in 2025 it was 28%. This year it is 33%. Unite warned that the ZEV mandate could cost jobs, arguing that carmakers may opt to stop selling vehicles rather than risk £12,000 fines for each vehicle by which they miss sales targets. General secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘This is a huge victory. UK car workers have been increasingly fearful for their jobs. ‘The government at the highest level has listened to the concerns of Unite and is now set to act decisively to protect the jobs of UK automotive workers. ‘As Unite had said, the failure to act would have been an act of self-harm to a sector which is a jewel in the crown of UK manufacturing. ‘The consultation must be swiftly concluded and its findings quickly implemented to provide the sector and workers with much needed certainty.’ Downing Street has been approached for comment. By Ted Hennessey, Press Association source: PA Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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