acf domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/ecg/ecgassociationdev/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121Automotive News Europe — 2025-01-04
Automotive Industry
Almost one in three new cars registered in the UK last month (December 2024) were full electric as automakers keep slashing prices of battery-powered models to avoid fines.
Sales of EVs jumped about 60% to nearly 44,000 units in December from a year earlier, according to preliminary data by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
EVs accounted for 31% of registrations, their highest monthly share in two years.
Despite the year-end surge, automakers failed to hit the annual target of 22% under the country’s EV sales mandate. Manufacturers face fines of as much as £15,000 ($18,600) per vehicle for failing to comply, though they can avoid penalties by using a credits-trading system and exceeding requirements in later years.
The UK government is now reviewing the rules, which could result in increased flexibilities to help manufacturers meet them. Clean-energy advocates have criticized efforts to water down the quota, arguing doing so will slow the shift away from the combustion engine.
The EV sales target rises to 28% this year, which SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said will be very difficult to meet. Discounts fueling current demand are unsustainable, he told reporters.
EV sales have held up better in the UK than in the European Union, where the removal of incentives in markets including Germany has stifled demand. But even in the UK, only one in ten private buyers chose an EV in 2024, with business and fleet customers driving much of the demand.
Stellantis cited the UK mandate when it announced plans in November to stop making Vauxhall vans at its Luton plant after 120 years of vehicle production there.