UK ZEV Mandate review, 2026: three dated SMMT statements trace the arc from June warning to consultation

The UK's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate has been the subject of a running exchange between government and the country's motor industry trade body in 2026. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) issued three dated public statements across the summer: a warning at the end of June, a reaction to the government's consultation announcement in mid-August, and a van-sector response in late August. Read together, they document the industry body's position as the review took shape. All figures below are SMMT's published UK figures, carrying the dates the body printed on its pages.

On 30 June 2026, at its International Automotive Summit in London, SMMT published its State of the Automotive Nation report and called for an immediate review of the Mandate. The central claim was that the regulation is running ahead of demand.

What the June statement said

The June news release put numbers on the gap SMMT saw opening up. It warned that annual targets rise sharply from January 2027 and set out current market shares as of the first five months of 2026.

The shares are dated on the same page as January–May 2026, and the underlying survey is described as the UK Automotive Business Leaders Barometer, conducted 1 May–2 June 2026 with 50 senior automotive leaders.

The consultation announcement, 14 August

On 14 August 2026, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes issued a statement on the government's decision to consult on the Mandate. He welcomed the review while restating the June argument that conditions have changed since the regulation was drawn up.

The statement also framed the stakes in commercial terms.

The van-sector reaction, 27 August

A third SMMT page, dated 27 August 2026, gathered the van sector's response and set out the consultation mechanics. The consultation runs until 23 October 2026, and the Mandate requires van makers to reach rising annual targets for new zero-emission vans, reaching 100% by 2035. The page noted that the 2026 year-to-date battery electric van share of 10.6% sits against a mandated 24% for this year, a 34% objective for 2027 and a stricter 70% goal by 2030.

The same page reported named company responses to the consultation's launch.

• Ford, through Lisa Brankin, Chair and Managing Director at Ford Motor Company, welcomed the government's launch of the consultation and the opportunity to contribute; the company added that it is vital any changes are communicated in 2026, giving the industry and customers clarity and lead time ahead of implementation from 2027 onwards.
• Stellantis said it was fully compliant with the Mandate in 2024 and 2025 and plans to be again this year, but that real customer demand is at odds with the mandate, meaning that compliance is coming at an increasingly significant and unsustainable cost.
• BVRLA Chief Executive Toby Poston called the consultation a vital opportunity to take stock, noting members hold approximately 750,000 electric vehicles and have contributed more than £36 billion of investment.

Who is running the review, and what it asks

SMMT's 27 August page summarised the review as being carried out jointly by the UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure.

As summed up on the same page, it is asking the sector whether existing annual targets remain appropriate and seeking views on compliance flexibilities and potential new adjustments or policy options; the rules currently allow some banking and borrowing of credits across years.

The percentages above are SMMT's published UK figures, dated on its pages: the 38% and 52% car targets for 2027 and 2028, the 23.9% BEV car and 9.5% van shares for January–May 2026, and the 10.6% van share as of late August 2026. They describe one moment and can change.

How to check this yourself

Every claim above traces to a dated SMMT news page: the 30 June 2026 State of the Automotive Nation release, the 14 August 2026 consultation statement, and the 27 August 2026 van-sector reaction, all on smmt.co.uk. For the current consultation deadline, check the gov.uk consultation page, since closing dates can be extended.