Electric car makers put brakes on UK production because drivers think vehicles are too expensive
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Electric car manufacturers are curbing production in the UK because many motorists find the vehicles too expensive
- Electric car production is slowing as vehicles are too expensive for many drivers
- According to forecasts, a quarter of the cars produced will be electric within two years
- The UK is now expected to produce 280,000 electric cars and vans by 2025
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Electric car makers are slowing down UK production because the vehicles are too expensive for many motorists.
The UK is now expected to produce 280,000 all-electric cars and vans by 2025, up from previous estimates of 360,000.
The forecast means that only a quarter of car production will be electric over the next two years, lower than previous projections of more than a third.
In its latest report, the Advanced Propulsion Center, which provides taxpayer funding for makers of zero-emission vehicles, said the “uncertain economy” is expected to push drivers toward cheaper car models for an extended period of time.
The UK is now expected to produce 280,000 all-electric cars and vans by 2025, up from previous estimates of 360,000
It added that the phenomenon is not unique to the UK, with electric vehicle production across Europe expected to reach 12 million, 1 million less than previous estimates.
The slowdown comes as potential buyers see their budgets hammered by cost-of-living pressures and inflation.
Declining production threatens to thwart a major government plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which sees the UK ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
The APC added that a sales recovery for 2030 was now “uncertain” due to ongoing supply chain issues, particularly of lithium, a key ingredient in electric car batteries, as well as political tensions around the world.
A production slowdown has already begun in the UK’s zero-emissions car industry, with BMW announcing in October that it would end production of the electric Mini at its Oxford factory to ship the operation to China. And Jaguar has yet to provide further details on plans to go all-electric by 2025.
The forecast means that only a quarter of car production will be electric over the next two years, lower than previous projections of more than a third
Cost concerns were flagged earlier this week by the RAC, which revealed that the average cost of charging an electric car has risen by 58 per cent since last May.
Meanwhile, city councils plot double-digit hikes in parking fees as they scramble for cash.
Costs will rise by about 10 per cent from April in areas such as York, Southend, Thanet and Waltham Forest. A day ticket in Dudley skyrockets by 43 per cent to £5 and the cost rises by 29 per cent at the most popular locations in Cornwall, to £2.20 per hour.
Local authorities have defended the increases, saying they are under severe financial strain, but others fear higher parking fees will hit city center businesses.
