Car manufacturers are rationing the UK supply of petrol and hybrid cars as they grapple with government-imposed environmental targets leading to growing frustration among consumers, according to an industry chief.
Robert Forrester, the chief executive of Vertu Motors, interviewed in the Daily Telegraph, pointed to the growing tension between government environmental policies and the practical realities faced by car manufacturers and dealerships.
While the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate aims to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, its implementation has led to unintended consequences, including constrained supply of petrol vehicles and financial losses for carmakers.
The ZEV mandate, which requires at least 22% of cars sold by manufacturers to be electric from this year, imposes hefty fines – £15,000 per excess petrol vehicle – on companies that fail to meet their quotas.
According to Forrester, manufacturers are deliberately delaying deliveries until next year to avoid severe penalties under these net zero policies.
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