Britain’s vanmakers have called on ministers not to penalise auto groups that miss electric vehicle sales targets next year, as flatlining sales remain at little more than half quota levels set by Whitehall.
Just 5.7 per cent of vans sold between January and November were zero emission, down from 5.8 per cent a year earlier, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed earlier this month. Annual sales figures will be released early in the new year.
The level is far below the 10 per cent target for 2024 that vanmakers must hit to avoid crippling fines, under the government’s EV quota scheme that ratchets up targets each year.