Carmakers complain of pressure to hit EV targets despite record sales in September

UK electric car sales hit a record high in September, even as bosses from major carmakers told the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, that government targets were putting too much pressure on the industry.

- Jasper Jolly

The British industry sold 56,300 electric cars during the month, the highest on record, according to preliminary data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a lobby group. That meant that 20.5% of sales during the month were electric.

However, the UK bosses of BMW, Ford and Land Rover's holding company, JLR, were among those who wrote to Reeves today ramping up pressure for government subsidies for EV sales amid a race to comply with the UK's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. The initiative aims to manage the phase-out of new petrol and diesel car sales, and the switch to EVs, over the next six years.

The carmakers, who also included the UK leaders of Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Stellantis, argued that "our EV market looks set to miss its target”.

Manufacturers around the world have for months complained of stalling growth in the demand for EVs. Toyota said it would delay the start of EV production in the US until 2026, after previously suggesting it would begin at the end of 2025. Ford and Volvo are also among those who have delayed their transition.

The SMMT figures showed registrations of new diesel cars for private buyers in September grew by about 17.2% compared with the same month in 2023.