Is the UK preparing to put the brakes on the transformation away from petrol and diesel cars in response to Trump’s tariffs? It certainly looks like it.
British manufacturers are being relatively lightly punished overall in the US president’s new world order – tariffs of goods exported to the States from this country have been set at 10%, significantly lower than those imposed on the EU and China.
But there’s an exception for cars made in Britain, which will face a 25% Trump “tax”. Jaguar Land Rover, a huge employer in the West Midlands and heavily reliant on US exports, has paused sales to the States.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has responded by relaxing penalties on UK manufacturers who continue to sell Co2 emitting cars after the target date of of 2030 and granted exemptions to luxury cars made by the likes of Aston Martin and McLaren.
The sale of hybrid cars will be now allowed until 2035 – a five year extension on the so-called “ZEV Mandate”. The same goes for petrol and diesel vans.
Adrian Goldberg hears from Anna Krajinska, the UK Director of Transport & Environment, and Professor David Bailey from Birmingham Business School.
Anna argues that weakening the ZEV Mandate is counterproductive and will slow down Britain’s progress towards a cleander, greener future; Prof. Bailey suggests the UK should be welcoming partnerships with Chinese EV manufacturers.
The Byline podcast is produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White.
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