On Monday, the Government announced significant changes to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which aims to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) whilst providing flexibility for manufacturers and support for consumers. The Government’s full policy updates included the following: Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate: Adjustments to make it easier for the industry to upgrade to electric vehicles. Phase-Out Dates: Confirmation of the phase-out of new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030, with hybrids allowed until 2035. Financial Support: £2.3 billion allocated to boost manufacturing of zero emission vehicles and assist people in switching to electric vehicles. Industrial Strategy: A modern strategy to be published in Spring to support British businesses in future industries. Flexibility for Manufacturers: Increased flexibility in the mandate up to 2030. Hybrid Cars: Allowed to be sold until 2035 to ease the transition. Investment: Over £6 billion of private funding lined up for charge point roll-out by 2030. Sue Robinson, chief executive of National Franchised Dealers Association, expressed the association’s support for the Government’s changes, emphasising their importance to the UK automotive sector, which contributes £19 billion to the economy and employs over 152,000 people. She cited that “NFDA has been lobbying, on behalf of its members, to have amendments made to the ZEV mandate for several years. The previous iteration of the ZEV mandate was causing significant harm to the UK automotive sector.” Robinson therefore welcomed this week’s changes as a step in the right direction for the UK automotive sector however stated that it was vital for more incentives to become available so consumers are encouraged to transition to EVs. The electric vehicle targets remain in place and the fines still remain high for manufacturers. The UK remains the most aggressive regime for the EV transition and Robinson urged the UK Government to align with the rest of Europe in order to make the market as competitive as possible. The updated ZEV Mandate also includes a modern industrial strategy to be published in the Spring, designed to support British businesses in future industries. This strategy is intended to provide the flexibility needed for manufacturers to comply with the targets, allowing more time to adapt to the changing regulatory environment. NFDA’s statement reflects the broader sentiment in the automotive sector, where manufacturers and stakeholders are calling for more robust incentives and measures to ease the transition to electric mobility while ensuring the UK remains a competitive player in the global automotive market.