Britain’s car makers have called for an ‘urgent’ watering down of electric vehicle targets and action on energy costs as latest figures showed they remained under ‘intense pressure’.
UK car production fell to 61,767 in July, down by 10.6 per cent on the same month last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, an industry body.
For the year to date they are running 4.7 per cent lower at 433,523, the SMMT said.
It comes as the industry struggles to meet government targets to increase the share of electric vehicles that they sell in the UK. Falling short could see car makers face fines.
This year, one in four new cars sold so far have been electric vehicles (EVs) – leaving the 33 per cent target for 2026 unlikely to be met. By 2030, that target will rise to 80 per cent, under the current 'zero-emission vehicle' (ZEV) rules.
