Automobile Industry: ZEV Mandate

Baroness Parminter Excerpts

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Dacres of Lewisham (Lab)]

As I have mentioned, the Government are committed to reindustrialisation and the future is zero emissions. I am pleased to hear what the noble Lord mentioned on the moving of those targets under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The review, which concluded a few weeks ago and will be published by the end of the year, is not hiding anything. That is why we are involving different parts of the automotive sector, including trade unions and other organisations and groups. With their help and support, and taking their views on board, we want to find out exactly what needs to be done to move in the right direction so that we get to those targets together.

[Baroness Parminter (LD)]

My Lords, available charging is vital for EV drivers, yet ChargeUK is warning that £1.7 billion of charging infrastructure is in jeopardy if the ZEV mandate is changed. What account are the Government taking of the needs of drivers and of further investment in clean, green driving as they consider watering down standards for car makers?

[Baroness Dacres of Lewisham (Lab)]

The Government are working hard to make sure that we are involving all parts of the automotive industry. The noble Baroness mentioned charging points: we are investing £600 million to support the rollout of charging infrastructure. That includes working with local governments, strategic authorities and our devolved nations to make sure that everybody is pulling in the right direction to ensure that we get the rollout in all parts of the country.