Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate 2026-02-12

2026-02-12

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Desmond Swayne Con
New Forest West
Context
The UK gigafactory commission, chaired by a former Labour Secretary of State, says that the ZEV mandate is disincentivising investment in UK motor manufacturing.
Even the UK gigafactory commission, chaired by a former Labour Secretary of State, says that the ZEV mandate is disincentivising investment in UK motor manufacturing. We all know that U-turns are a sign of open-mindedness and strength. Can we please have another?
I am surprised that the right hon. Gentleman talks about U-turns. This Government remain committed to the ZEV transition, and it is precisely the certainty of this Government's policy that means we will meet the transition targets. Yet again, he is showing that his party cannot be trusted with the economy and the environment.
Assessment & feedback
The question about reconsidering or reversing the ZEV mandate was not addressed directly; instead, it was met with criticism of the opposition's inconsistency on environmental issues.
Criticizing The Opposition Questioning Motives
Response accuracy
Q2 Direct Answer
Desmond Swayne Con
New Forest West
Context
The entire UK charge point industry supports the Government's passenger car ZEV mandate to signal that this Government will not follow climate change-denying luddites in the Opposition.
Meur ras ha myttin da, Mr Speaker. I declare an interest as chair of the electric vehicle all-party parliamentary group. The entire UK charge point industry is united in supporting the Government's passenger car ZEV mandate to send a signal to motorists that this Government will not follow the lead of the climate change-denying luddites in the Opposition. Does the Secretary of State agree that the ZEV mandate is proving to be a fundamental, market-shaping policy that is driving investment, expanding choice and delivering cheaper motoring?
I do agree with my hon. Friend, who I know has expert knowledge of the charge point industry. The clarity that the ZEV mandate provides has triggered over £6 billion-worth of private sector investment in charging infrastructure, and it is one of the reasons why we have a brand-new gigafactory being built in Somerset and huge investment by Nissan in its Sunderland plant.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Perran Moon Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Context
Last year, Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles doubled their market share in the UK.
Last year, 9.7% of vehicles sold in the UK were Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles—a near doubling of the market share that they had the year before, which stood at 4.9%. What assessment has the Secretary of State's Department made of the threat that this may pose to national security and to our industrial resilience, and does she share my concerns?
I can assure the hon. Gentleman that this Government take our national security duties very seriously. We are taking significant steps to support the UK car manufacturing sector, but we will continue to ensure that all the security issues to which he refers are front and centre of our minds.
Assessment & feedback
The specific assessment requested was not provided; instead, a general commitment to national security was given without details on the threat from Chinese-manufactured EVs.
Vague Reassurance
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Bradley Thomas Con
Bromsgrove
Context
The previous government's lack of certainty on the ZEV mandate was detrimental to British industry and the environment.
I declare an interest as chair of the British buses APPG. The previous Government's failure to provide any certainty on the ZEV mandate was not good for British industry or the environment, and I welcome this Government's progress. We must acknowledge that the ZEV mandate must retain a degree of flexibility, as the Secretary of State described, to enable the transition of our domestic bus manufacturing sector. Prior to the imminent publication of the 10-year bus plan, can the Minister outline what further measures the Government are considering to support the transition of our domestic bus manufacturers?
I know that my hon. Friend takes an active interest in this issue, given the importance of bus manufacturing to his constituents in Falkirk. We are backing Britain's bus manufacturers with long-term certainty through the 10-year zero emission bus pipeline and the work of the bus manufacturing expert panel.
Assessment & feedback
The question about specific measures for supporting domestic bus manufacturers was not fully addressed; instead, it referenced existing initiatives without additional commitments.
Reference To Existing Programs
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Euan Stainbank Lab
Falkirk
Context
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders data reveals that EVs are losing market share.
The latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders data reveals that EVs are losing market share. The president of Hyundai's European arm has been quoted in The Telegraph as arguing that the ZEV mandate no longer makes sense and needs to be rethought. Without change, he said, the policy could cause manufacturers to become loss-making and prompt some to stop selling both internal combustion engine and electric cars in the United Kingdom. When will the Government understand that people just do not want EVs, and no amount of taxpayer-funded bribes to try to make them do so are going to work?
I am afraid that is just not true. Compared with 2024, EV sales increased by nearly a quarter in 2025, and nine in 10 drivers who switch would recommend an EV thanks to ease of use and a quieter, smoother driving experience.
Assessment & feedback
The question about the challenges with EV adoption was not directly addressed; instead, it countered the argument with current market data.
Dismissing Concerns
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Greg Smith Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Context
Stellantis has announced €22.2 billion of charges as it scales back its electric vehicle production.
Ministers do not want to listen to Hyundai, so let us try Stellantis. It has announced €22.2 billion of charges as it scales back its electric vehicle production, and its CEO has stated: “What we are announcing…is an important strategic reset of our business model...to put our customer preferences back at the centre of what we do”. We are all sent here to represent our constituents, so why will the Government not listen to consumers, set the car market free and adopt the Conservative plan to scrap the ZEV mandate?
To drive investment in car manufacturing, this Government must provide some certainty about the direction of travel, and there is no doubt that the future is zero emission. We are working with the industry to deliver a successful transition, which is why we made the adjustments—the new flexibilities—that I announced last April.
Assessment & feedback
The question about scrapping the ZEV mandate due to consumer preferences was not directly addressed; instead, it reiterated commitment to zero emission vehicles with some flexibility.
Reference To Previous Adjustments
Response accuracy