Nissan sounds the alarm: Outdated EV mandate could stall UK car industry

Nissan has thrown a spanner into the works of the UK’s Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) Mandate, calling for a pit stop to rethink how the policy aligns with reality. The mandate, designed to push automakers into ditching petrol and diesel engines in favour of electric vehicles, is now facing criticism for being out of touch with a market that’s lost some of its charge.

Here’s the deal: the ZEV Mandate aims for 22 per cent of new car sales to be electric by 2024, ramping up to 28 per cent in 2025. The problem? Industry predictions say EV sales will barely hit 18.5 per cent next year, even after manufacturers slashed prices like it was Black Friday at the car lot. Falling short means hefty fines for carmakers – or forcing them to buy credits from EV-only brands, most of which aren’t even based in the UK. That, Nissan warns, would leave British manufacturers footing the bill for foreign firms while sidelining investments at home.

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Leading the charge is Nissan’s regional boss, Guillaume Cartier, who didn’t mince words. “The Mandate risks driving investments away from the UK and putting jobs on the line,” he said, urging the government to hit the brakes on punitive measures and rethink its approach.

Nissan proposes two key changes:

- Borrowing credits from future years to give carmakers a chance to adjust.
- A two-year grace period to evaluate progress without slamming manufacturers with fines.

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These tweaks, Nissan argues, won’t cost taxpayers a dime and could keep billions of pounds in investment parked in the UK.

Nissan’s plea isn’t just about hitting sales targets – it’s about safeguarding a sector that employs hundreds of thousands and drives 12 per cent of UK exports. The clock is ticking, and Cartier has made it clear: without urgent action, the ZEV Mandate could backfire, leaving the UK automotive industry stuck in neutral.

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