- If you order a gas car today from certain U.K. dealers, you will take delivery next year even though it could be delivered sooner.
- This rationing of ICE vehicle sales is what manufacturers and their affiliated dealer networks are doing to meet the U.K. government’s annual EV quota.
As the United Kingdom aims to transition to a future when it will only allow the sale of new cars if they are electric, it’s imposing a growing annual EV quota that manufacturers must meet. The country has a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, whose target for 2024 is for at least 22% of all new cars sold to be electric. However, with slumping buyer interest in EVs, the annual target will be missed, so dealers are artificially pushing back the delivery of combustion cars to hopefully get buyers to choose EVs, which they will take delivery of much sooner.
The Telegraph points to data provided by the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which reduced its prediction that 19.8% of all new cars sold in the U.K. this year would be electric. The SMMT now expects only 18.5% of new cars bought in 2024 to be electric and even this prediction is boosted by companies adding EVs to their fleets, not private buyers going out and choosing an electric car.
Robert Forrester, the chief executive of Vertu Motors, claims that if you order a new car today at certain locations, it will arrive in February. The only reason it takes so long is because manufacturers don’t want to miss the required EV quota for 2024. This has apparently sent more people looking for a car on the second-hand market, which has seen a boost in demand.
Forrester went on to say that “in some franchises there’s a restriction on supply of petrol cars and hybrid cars, which is actually where the demand is. It’s almost as if we can’t supply the cars that people want, but we’ve got plenty of the cars that maybe they don’t want.” He explained that the manufacturers “are trying to avoid the fines. So they’re constraining the ability for us to supply petrol cars,” even though EVs are “not easily finding homes.”
The cooling of electric car demand has been felt in many markets around the world, and it is so noticeable that it has made manufacturers reiterate (and often postpone) their full transition to only making EVs. This is at odds with governments’ plans to phase out the sale of new combustion cars by the end of the decade or by 2035, and it could result in friction between them and the manufacturers and a lack of supply for the vehicles that people want to buy (electrified rather than fully electric cars).
In the U.K., the government plans to impose an increased EV quota every year until it reaches 80% in 2030. By 2035, current plans indicate that it will not allow the sale of anything other than electric vehicles. Other European nations have announced a very similar time frame for stopping sales of all non-electric vehicles, but they seem just as difficult to impose given buyers’ current preferences, which seem to be trending away from EVs and more toward hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
The carmakers aren’t pleased either and are backtracking on their EV plans. They’ve invested billions to develop and produce EVs in high volumes, assured by governing bodies that these vehicles would sell. However, they aren’t selling as well as they had hoped, especially now that many European governments are cutting back on tax credits for EVs and other benefits that encourage EV ownership. Help from the government made EVs (which are usually more expensive than equivalent ICE vehicles) cheaper and spurred demand artificially, but it seems that without it, the buyers will revert to driving combustion cars rather than having to pay more for an EV.
As the UK government aims to phase out traditional gas-powered vehicles and promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to meet its environmental targets, car dealers are taking proactive measures to limit the availability of gas cars and incentivize the switch to electric.
In recent months, reports have emerged of UK dealers ‘rationing’ gas cars and prioritizing the sale of electric vehicles in order to comply with the government’s quota for reducing carbon emissions. This move comes as part of the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, a goal that requires a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels, particularly in the transportation sector.
According to industry experts, the decision to ‘ration’ gas cars is driven by a combination of factors, including the government’s tightening regulations on carbon emissions, the increasing demand for EVs from environmentally conscious consumers, and the declining popularity of gas-powered vehicles in the face of rising fuel prices and concerns over air pollution.
As a result, many UK car dealers are now offering a limited selection of gas cars, while actively promoting the benefits of EVs to their customers. This includes offering incentives such as discounts, rebates, and favorable financing options for customers who choose to make the switch to electric.
While some consumers may be hesitant to embrace EVs due to concerns over range anxiety, charging infrastructure, or the higher upfront cost of electric vehicles, industry experts believe that the shift towards electric mobility is inevitable and that the benefits of driving an EV outweigh the challenges.
Not only do EVs offer a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to gas cars, they also provide lower operating costs, reduced maintenance requirements, and a smoother and quieter driving experience. In addition, with the UK government investing in expanding the country’s charging infrastructure and offering grants for the purchase of electric vehicles, the transition to electric mobility is becoming increasingly accessible and convenient for consumers.
As UK dealers take proactive steps to limit the availability of gas cars and promote the adoption of EVs, it is clear that the electric revolution in the automotive industry is well underway. By embracing this transition and making the switch to electric, consumers can not only contribute to reducing carbon emissions and combatting climate change, but also enjoy the many benefits that come with driving an EV. The future of mobility is electric, and UK car dealers are leading the way in accelerating this transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable transportation system.