Expect a big drive by dealers and manufacturers to sell electric models from today or face £15,000 fines for each model above statutory limits laid down by the Government.
The rules mandating the minimum number of new pure electric cars and vans that have to be sold in the UK have come into force.
From today, (Jan 3) at least 22% of new cars sold by carmakers have to be zero-emission and for new vans the figure is 10% and the percentage will be ramped up until 2030 when 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in the UK have to be pure electric.
Government plans originally set out for 100% of new car sales to be pure electric by 2030, but this was moved to 2035 in last September.
Manufacturers which fail to abide by the rules or make use of flexibilities – such as carrying over allowances from previous years – will be required to pay the government £15,000 per polluting vehicle sold above the limits.
The mandate is a devolved policy and was developed with the Scottish government, Welsh government and Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure.
It will put pressure on makers and dealers to shift stock with sales incentives introduced which will give buyers greater haggling room to negotiate a better deal and look at a rival outlet and brand.