SMMT Reports

Blueprint for the Electric Vehicle Revolution

SMMT Blueprint for the electric vehicle revolution

The automotive industry is committed to delivering on Britain’s triple bottom line, supporting people (with 864,000 skilled jobs across the country), prosperity (accounting for £79 billion turnover, £15.3 billion value added, and 10% of UK exported goods) and planet (with a proven track record of reducing CO2 emissions over the past 20 years).

Government has set a clear goal to end the of sale of pure petrol and diesel cars and vans in 2030 – meaning the automotive industry is required to make a more significant and advanced commitment than any other major car or van market.

Delivering that goal requires the commitment of four parties – the industry itself, government, wider stakeholders, and of course, the consumer.

UK Automotive shares government’s ambition and is committed to zero-emission motoring. More than 140 models of battery electric, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell and hybrid vehicle are now currently on the market, meaning one in three models available to buy is zero-emission capable. Acceptance of electric vehicles has been accelerating, accounting for one in 10 registrations in 2020. However, the vast majority of zero-emission cars registered in 2020 were for business purchasers – not the private consumer. Just 4.6% of new consumer vehicles last year were battery powered.

If we are to succeed in our 2030 ambition, we must convince the mass market to make the switch. Polling by Savanta ComRes suggests that just under half (47.9%) of drivers don’t expect to be ready to drive a full electric vehicle by 2030 – and more than a quarter are so put off by concerns such as cost and lack of infrastructure they believe they will never buy an electric vehicle.

This challenge can be solved. Industry is committed to delivering the vehicles, with manufacturers across the board pledging to add to the vast number of electrified models available, and many already fully committed to being exclusively zero-emission by the end of the decade. The industry is determined to work with government and all stakeholders to deliver an electric revolution that is accessible and affordable for all: to accelerate demand; to expand and improve world-class charging infrastructure; and to create the conditions that will make the UK one of the world’s most attractive places in which to invest in electric vehicle production.

By doing so, we can inspire the consumer to commit to zero-emission motoring – and deliver the transformation we need to support Britain’s triple bottom line.

SMMT Blueprint for the electric vehicle revolution