Continuing my theme that there are positives if you look for them, Stellantis UK, the owner of Vauxhall Motors Ltd, Peugeot UK, Citroën UK, DS Automobiles UK, Fiat, Abarth & C. Spa, & Jeep, recently announced some exciting news!
It has successfully met the UK Government's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate for 2024, thanks to strong Electric Vehicle (EV) sales. This required manufacturers to ensure at least 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans sold in the UK were zero-emission.
Stellantis, the second-largest automotive group in the UK in 2024 according to Felipe Munoz, sold 39,492 electric cars last year—a 59% increase from 2023—securing a 10% share of the UK’s new electric car market. Its success is credited to a diverse portfolio of 30 electric models across its brands.
Eurig Druce, Group MD, Stellantis UK, said: “2024 saw more people than ever purchase an EV, and I’d like to thank our customers who chose to switch to electric with one of our brands, and our incredible UK retailer network for making it happen.”
Industry experts have also applauded Stellantis’ achievement.
Quentin Willson, founder of FairCharge, and advisor to EVUK Power Ltd said: “The fact that Stellantis has hit their ZEV mandate for 2024 shows what we’ve always said – the mandate is achievable. Targets like these, often criticised by the car industry, have helped make the UK the number one EV market in Europe.”
Ben Nelmes, chief executive of New AutoMotive, echoed this sentiment, stating: “The UK’s targets are working. Consumer demand is there, manufacturers are delivering, and the UK is poised to benefit from greener, cheaper transport.”
And the news gets even better when you hear that those new EVs will be running on UK electricity that was the cleanest ever in 2024, with emissions per unit down by two-thirds in a decade according to Carbon Brief.
This is because the UK has phased out coal and is now getting less than half as much electricity from burning fossil fuels as a decade ago, while renewable generation has more than doubled.
Challenges remain - of course.
Persistent myths—such as fears about EVs catching fire or batteries failing—continue to hinder acceptance, exacerbated by the media. In reality, BEVs are significantly less likely to catch fire, their batteries often outlast the cars themselves, and used electric cars are already generally cheaper than petrol or diesel equivalents.
Private buyers are still deterred by high up-front costs, limited (but improving) charging infrastructure, and range anxiety.
The second-hand EV market also poses challenges, with growing numbers of fleet EVs returning to market. The BVRLA highlights the need for manufacturers to create clear pathways for second- and third-life EV ownership, ensuring a sustainable future for the market.
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