In a significant power play, Britain’s carmakers have forced the government to rethink its strategy for phasing out petrol cars. Through a coordinated campaign of private lobbying and public warnings, the industry secured major concessions on the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
The campaign’s success lay in its unified and stark messaging. Companies like BMW, JLR, Nissan, and Toyota consistently hammered home the risks to UK jobs, investment, and competitiveness. They portrayed the mandate as an extreme policy that would inflict serious economic harm.
These arguments were presented directly to policymakers in consultation responses, which have now come to light. The documents show an industry leveraging its economic importance to resist the pace of regulatory change, a classic example of corporate influence over government policy.
While the outcome is a victory for the carmakers, it is seen as a defeat for the UK’s climate agenda. Campaigners have accused the industry of using its power to stall progress and have criticised the government for being unwilling to stand up to a powerful lobby.