Fiat has expressed concerns over the UK's ability to meet its ambitious electric vehicle (EV) sales targets by 2030. The company highlights the decline in EV sales, particularly among private buyers, due to high costs and lack of government incentives.
Despite the UK's goal of achieving 80% EV sales by 2030 and banning new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, recent figures show a concerning drop in EV adoption. Fiat's UK Managing Director, Damien Dally, emphasizes the need for consumer support to boost EV adoption.
Dally warns that the current trajectory of the electric car market in the UK is concerning, with private sales slowing down. Industry peers echo Fiat's concerns, calling for targeted government grants to reduce the price gap between electric and petrol cars and address challenges in achieving ambitious sales targets.
The government's decision to discontinue the electric car subsidy in June 2022 has left the UK as the only major European country without incentives for EVs. This lack of financial support has exacerbated the challenges in promoting EV adoption and achieving the goal of 100% EV sales by 2035.