The UK government is expected to reduce its electric vehicle sales targets this week following sustained pressure from carmakers seeking urgent relief
from current rules, according to reports by BBC News.
Meanwhile, the National Energy System Operator has issued a rare Electricity Margin Notice due to low renewable output, prompting gas plants to be put on standby, while the outgoing Macquarie boss defends the investor’s UK utility tenure.
Ministers weigh cuts to the 2030 target
Under existing regulations, 80% of new cars sold in the UK are required to be electric by 2030. Ministers have been consulting on lowering that requirement to approximately 60%, with discussions also involving extended target flexibilities through 2034. The government is expected to significantly reduce its 2030 electric vehicle sales target, a move met with industry relief and environmental concern.
Downing Street has maintained that no decision has been finalized, though Transport Secretary Louise Haigh was expected to finalise the plan following a Downing Street meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 11 November 2026. A government source told the BBC that the administration would approach the issue in a pragmatic and balanced
way.
The Prime Minister has recused himself from the review due to family ties to an electric vehicle company. Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh is chairing the key meetings on the subject.
Automakers miss projected battery-electric car targets
Automakers have argued that the existing trajectory is unattainable under current market conditions and manufacturing constraints. Industry forecasts indicate that battery-electric cars were projected to account for 27.2% of the market in 2026, missing the mandated 33% target for the year.
The zero-emission vehicle mandate, which took effect in 2024, sets escalating annual quotas. Those targets rise from 33% in 2026 to 38% in 2027, 52% in 2028, and 66% in 2029 before reaching the final threshold.
Environmental groups warn against weakening climate goals
Sustainability and environmental groups have warned that weakening the 2030 target threatens the UK’s long-term electrification and climate goals. Critics argue that reducing ambition now will hinder the country’s ability to meet its net-zero obligations, BBC News notes. The decision also comes alongside government approval of the Jackdaw gas field, leading some observers to interpret the combined moves as prioritising economic considerations over environmental protection.
A government spokesperson defended the broader framework, stating:
We are committed to the phase out of all new cars relying solely on petrol and diesel engines by 2030, and to 100% of new car and van sales being zero emission by 2035, and our legally binding net zero targets.
Government spokesperson
The policy has experienced multiple revisions since former Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced the phase-out in 2020. His successor Rishi Sunak later delayed the timeline to 2035, and the government set up a review of the EV sales targets in August.