Climate campaigners have accused major car manufacturers of employing “cynical tactics” after it was revealed they threatened UK jobs and investment to secure weaker electric vehicle regulations. Documents show that companies like BMW, JLR, and Nissan lobbied the government by claiming the original Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate was unsustainable.
The private submissions detailed a series of stark warnings. BMW suggested its 8,000 direct UK jobs were at risk, Toyota spoke of penalties in the “hundreds of millions,” and Nissan claimed the rules would divert funds from crucial UK-based R&D. These arguments collectively pressured the government to ease the requirements for selling EVs.
In April, the government added new “flexibilities” to the mandate, a move celebrated by the industry as pragmatic but condemned by environmental groups. Ben Nelmes, CEO of New Automotive, pointed out that the industry had met its 2024 targets, proving the policy was effective and that the UK auto sector is capable of a rapid transition.
Tom Riley, who runs the newsletter that obtained the documents, stated, “Carmakers love to wave the union jack when it suits them, but threatening UK jobs and investment to weaken climate policy is a cynical tactic.” The episode highlights the deep tension between industrial interests and the UK’s legally-binding climate targets.