Stellantis has successfully met the UK government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets for 2024 despite blaming the mandate as the reason for the closure for its Luton factory.
The automotive giant achieved the required 22 per cent threshold for new cars and 10 per cent for new vans, as mandated by the Government’s electric vehicle sales requirements.
The company reported success “through sales” of its extensive electric vehicle lineup, which includes 30 electric cars and vans across 11 brands in the UK market.
Stellantis reported selling 39,492 electric cars in the UK during 2024 and marks a significant 59 per cent increase compared to their 2023 sales figures.
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Stellantis achieved its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets despite attacking them last year
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The company secured a 10 per cent share of the new electric car market through these sales.
Their success was attributed to a diverse electric vehicle portfolio, with the company offering 30 different electric cars and vans across their brand lineup.
By the end of 2025, manufacturers must have 28 per cent of sales come from electric vehicles and 16 per cent for new vans.
These percentages will continue to rise annually, reaching a substantial 80 per cent requirement for new cars by 2030.
Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, said: “It is fantastic to see Stellantis – a true heavyweight of UK automotive manufacturing – meeting its electric vehicle targets.
“Stellantis have not just met their targets for electric van sales, they have left them in the dust. That means they will be in line for a significant financial bonus, which will support electric vanmaking at Ellesmere Port.
“The lessons for Ministers are clear: the UK’s targets are working, consumer demand is there, manufacturers are delivering, and the UK is poised to benefit from greener, cheaper transport.”
Despite meeting the ZEV mandate targets, Stellantis announced plans to close its Vauxhall van-making factory in Luton, putting 1,100 jobs at risk.
The decision came after the company had strongly criticised the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate requirements.
The closure announcement was made in November, with Stellantis explicitly citing the “stringent” ZEV mandate as a context for the decision.
Many were surprised by the announcement considering it was less than a year after Stellantis stated that production of electric vehicles at the Luton plant from 2025.
The facility was set to produce medium-size electric vans for Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat Professional.
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Stellantis announced that it would begin electric vehicle production in Luton in 2025
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Stellantis plans to consolidate its UK manufacturing operations at its Ellesmere Port facility through a £50million investment.
The company has committed to offering relocation support for Luton employees willing to transfer to the Ellesmere Port site, where hundreds of permanent jobs will be created.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The UK is now the largest EV market in Europe and, thanks to the flexibilities of the ZEV mandate, we are confident that the whole industry will meet targets and that no car manufacturer will need to pay fines.
“We’re investing over £2.3billion to make the transition to zero-emissions vehicles a success, unlocking a multi-billion-pound industry and creating high-quality jobs that will drive growth for decades to come.”
