The government has launched a consultation on the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, the regulation that sets the pace at which car makers must sell zero-emission vehicles on the way to ending new petrol and diesel sales by 2035. The review was announced on 1 August 2026, with the government describing it as a review to shape the pathway to reach zero-emission driving by 20351.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the trade body for the UK motor industry, responded with a statement from its chief executive, Mike Hawes, dated 14 August 20261. Hawes said the industry remains committed to a zero-emission future and that the regulation was drawn up under different conditions, citing cheaper energy, rapidly declining production costs and more optimistic global demand expectations1. He said regulatory targets are now running ahead of current consumer demand, and described the review as a timely opportunity to optimise the pace of change1.
"We welcome government’s consultation on the ZEV Mandate and how it should change to better support the UK’s transition."
Hawes added that the regulation increasingly dictates consumer choice and therefore automotive companies' future strategies and viability, and that it must work for all involved. He called for a commercially sustainable transition supporting UK competitiveness, investment and jobs while delivering greater choice and affordability for motorists, with a rapid resolution needed to unlock those benefits1.
The SMMT statement does not set out the specific proposals in the consultation, the options under consideration, or the closing date for responses. Those details have not been reported in the material available. The government's own announcement is referenced by the SMMT as a separate page on gov.uk1.
Why it matters for households
The mandate shapes which new cars and vans are sold in the UK and, indirectly, the choice and price of vehicles reaching the used market that most households buy from. If targets run ahead of demand, as the SMMT argues, the practical effect for a household is on what is available to buy, at what price, and how quickly the second-hand market fills with electric models1. The regulation sits within the wider regulation and policy framework covering how homes and transport move away from fossil fuels.
For a household weighing energy independence, the mandate governs the vehicle side rather than the home side: it does not change electricity tariffs, home charging costs or heating rules, none of which are covered in the SMMT statement. What it does affect is the timing of the shift away from petrol and diesel cars, and therefore how soon a household considering an electric vehicle faces a market where new combustion-engine models are no longer sold1.
What happens next
The consultation is open, and the SMMT has called for a rapid resolution so that the benefits it describes can be unlocked1. No closing date, response deadline or timetable for a government decision has been reported.