BMW leveraged the UK’s post-Brexit economic landscape in its successful push to weaken the country’s electric car sales regulations. The German carmaker told the government that Britain has become a “far more difficult place to produce vehicles,” arguing that a stringent ZEV mandate would further damage its competitiveness.
In its formal response to the government’s consultation, BMW, which builds Mini and Rolls-Royce cars in the UK, warned that the combination of Brexit-related challenges and a “radical” EV policy could negatively impact its 8,000 direct employees and the wider supply chain.
This argument was part of a broader industry offensive against the original mandate. While BMW focused on Brexit, other manufacturers like Toyota highlighted the risk of huge financial penalties, and JLR raised concerns about subsidising foreign EV makers. The collective lobbying created significant pressure for a policy change.
The government’s subsequent decision to relax the rules suggests these arguments were persuasive. However, critics contend that Brexit is being used as a convenient excuse by an industry reluctant to embrace a rapid transition, and that the UK is now at risk of falling behind in the global green technology race.