Labour has been criticised for not supporting car manufacturers and promoting electric vehicle (EV) adoption, risking jobs and investment as cheap Chinese imports flood the UK market.
Experts, including former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson, argue that the government should invest more in car chargers and offer incentives like free parking to meet EV sales targets.
The zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, requiring 22% of new car sales to be electric, has been blamed for Stellantis’ decision to close its Luton van plant, threatening 1,100 jobs. The government plans to review the mandate but has not promised to ease targets. Ford UK MD Lisa Brankin and other executives call for tax breaks and other incentives to encourage drivers to switch from petrol and diesel.
Labour aims to move the deadline for 100% zero emissions car sales to 2030, five years earlier than the previous target. Academics say EV demand has stagnated due to high upfront costs and battery concerns, with Labour doing little to address these issues.
Car manufacturers are also facing stiff competition from Chinese brands like BYD and MG, which produce affordable electric cars on a large scale, potentially driving manufacturing out of the UK. Half of all cars sold in China are electric, supported by government grants, while UK electric car grants ended in June 2022.
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith called the Luton plant closure a “downpayment on jobs” and criticised the ZEV mandate as unworkable for the industry.
Source: Daily Mail
graham+cox
total lack of direction and understanding of the uk market place
why are we not investing in alternative fuels to use in the modern engine which would be far more enviromently sound
they are all out of touch
send the transport minister to my garage and i will open there eyes to the state of the vehicle park in the uk