The Conservatives have launched a formal bid to scrap the UK’s legally binding electric vehicle quotas, intensifying the political battle over the transition to electric vehicles.

Proposed by Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden, the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023 (Revocation) Bill seeks to revoke the VETS scheme, which provides the legal basis for the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.

The bill seeks to dismantle the regulatory framework that obliges car and van manufacturers to ensure a rising percentage of their new vehicle sales are zero-emission each year. Under current targets, car manufacturers must achieve a 33% EV sales share in 2026, rising to 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2035, facing financial penalties for non-compliance. For vans, the targets are set at 24% in 2026, increasing to 70% by 2030 and aligning at 100% by 2035.

Holden argues that the ZEV mandate is a “classic example of politicians in Whitehall thinking they know better than families and businesses”.

The Conservative MP asserts that the rules place an artificial, bureaucratic burden on the British automotive industry and restrict consumer choice.

Holden said: “If you want an electric car, buy one. If you want a hybrid, petrol or diesel car, you should be free to buy that too. The choice should be yours, not forced on you whether it’s suitable or not by misguided ministers in the Labour Government.

“Now, I am putting legislation before the House of Commons to scrap the ZEV mandate.

“British manufacturers should be building the cars people want to buy, not facing fines because politicians have set arbitrary quotas that consumer demand cannot support.

“Conservatives will back innovation and cleaner technology by making it work for consumers, not by telling people what they have to buy. We will put motorists and businesses back in the driving seat.”

However, the Labour government has dismissed the bill, labelling it a political distraction and pointing out that the ZEV mandate mechanism was originally introduced under the previous Conservative administration.

A spokesperson said: “The Tories are tying themselves in knots with cheap stunts to overturn a policy they introduced in the first place.

“It’s never been easier or cheaper to own an EV. More than 1.8 million EV drivers are saving up to £1,400 per year in running costs compared to petrol, boosting our energy security and protecting consumers from volatile fuel prices.”

Electric vehicle industry leaders and advocacy groups have also strongly condemned the Tories’ legislative bid, arguing that tearing up the rules would damage market confidence just as EV adoption hits record highs. Latest SMMT figures show that battery electric vehicles claimed a record 29.8% market share in August ahead of the crucial September plate change.

Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, said there was a “staggering irony in attacking the ZEV mandate as government meddling, while proposing to meddle with a policy that is already working”.

She continued: “Leave the mandate where it is and leave British motorists alone. Let people choose the cars they want to drive.

“Electric vehicles were the best-selling powertrain in August. Drivers are choosing EVs because they are cheaper to run, increasingly affordable to buy and simply make sense for millions of motorists. The market is moving. Politicians should stop trying to drag it backwards.”

And Vicky Edmonds, chief executive officer of EVA England, warned that removing the targets would create a damaging climate of uncertainty for consumers and manufacturers alike.

“Drivers are already showing they are ready to make the switch to electric,” Edmonds said. “What they need now is confidence and support, not the rules being ripped up. EV sales are growing strongly and are already running ahead of the targets set for this year. That shows clear deadlines can work. Scrapping the ZEV mandate would risk creating uncertainty for drivers and slowing progress just as more people are choosing electric.

“The priority should be making the switch easier and more affordable for drivers, while giving everyone confidence about where the country is heading.”

But the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) said the proposed bill simply underlines the level of interest and concern around the transition to electric vehicles, in particular the pace of change.

The Tories’ legislative challenge arrives at a time of heightened scrutiny and debate over the transition to electric vehicles.

Last month saw the Government launch its controversial official review and consultation regarding the operation of the mandate.

The fast-track consultation, which runs until 23 October 2026, could potentially ease the electric vehicle sales targets, bowing to mounting pressure from the automotive sector.

Labour has said the promised review of the mandate will ensure it continues to support British industry and investment, but has stated that it remains committed to phasing out all new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, and ensuring all new cars and vans must be zero emission by 2035.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it recognises manufacturers are facing challenges, but has demonstrated flexibility at pace and will do so again if necessary.

And the IMI said that while the direction of travel for the EV transition can’t change, there may be some steps that make the pace of change less onerous for certain parts of the sector and which acknowledge the current challenges.

Official data published by the DfT confirms that the automotive industry as a whole successfully hit its legal obligations in 2024 and 2025 without a single manufacturer being forced to pay non-compliance fines. They achieved this by combining pure electric vehicle sales with the mandate’s regulatory flexibilities.

Furthermore, provisional market tracking and government consultation briefs indicate that carmakers are firmly on track to replicate this compliance success in 2026, despite the headline targets rising to 33%.