UK Moves to Soften EV Targets, Threatening the Teeth of Its 2035 Deadline

The UK government is poised to relax its 2030 interim EV sales targets under pressure from automakers and unions, according to reporting from 14 June 2026. The current mandate requires 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans zero-emission by 2030, escalating to 100% by 2035. Relaxing near-term milestones while preserving the 2035 endpoint may preserve political cover, but critics argue interim enforcement is what gives long-term commitments credibility.