British Car Brand Defies Electric Vehicle Mandate
The Morgan Motor Company, one of the UK’s most historic car brands, has pledged to continue manufacturing petrol and diesel cars for the foreseeable future, despite the UK government’s new electric vehicle pledges. In January, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that no new petrol or diesel vehicles would be sold after 2030. Between 2030 and 2035, new hybrid cars will remain on sale before only zero-emission vehicles can be sold from the middle of the next decade.
Matthew Hole, managing director of Morgan, told Top Gear that the company will continue to produce internal combustion engine vehicles ‘for as long as we possibly can.’ He emphasized that this is in line with the brand’s DNA and customer preferences. Morgan has an electric program running in parallel with its internal combustion engine development, but sees a future where both will coexist post-2030.
The government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate outlines how many electric vehicles manufacturers need to sell annually. By the end of this year, at least 28% of sales must come from zero-emission vehicles to avoid fines of £12,000 per polluting vehicle over the limit. Micro-volume manufacturers, like Morgan, which produce fewer than 1,000 annual registrations, have been exempt from the ZEV mandate and CO2 targets since its announcement.
Morgan recently unveiled its new Supersport model at its Malvern headquarters, priced at around £85,000 with ‘near limitless’ design options. Hole described this as an ‘exciting new chapter’ for Morgan, demonstrating the brand’s spirit and confidence. While the company is looking to the future, which may include an electric Morgan vehicle, its immediate focus remains on its traditional combustion engine technology.
The decision comes as the UK government relaxes its 2030 electric car mandate, a move announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month. This adjustment is expected to give manufacturers more flexibility, particularly those producing low volumes of vehicles.
