Tesla’s Call for Stronger Green Policies
Elon Musk’s Tesla urged the UK government to raise costs for petrol car buyers. This followed Labour’s election win. Tesla aimed to support the government’s green agenda while increasing its own profits.
Despite Musk’s public criticism of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Tesla pushed for stronger environmental policies. Tesla proposed expanding the electric vehicle (EV) mandate to include lorries. It suggested using fees from petrol and diesel car buyers to fund EV subsidies.
Tesla’s European chief, Joe Ward, outlined this proposal in a letter to Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood. The July letter stated that buyers of new polluting vehicles “should pay more.”
The letter, released after a Freedom of Information request by EV newsletter The Fast Charge, revealed Tesla’s support for Labour’s decarbonisation goals. Tesla’s backing of green policies contrasted with Musk’s online criticism of the government during summer riots.
Debate Over the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate
The UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires carmakers to meet EV sales targets. Companies failing to meet targets must buy credits from EV producers who exceed their quotas. UK carmakers have called for a relaxation of this policy, arguing that customer demand for EVs remains low.
Tesla’s stance opposed this approach. The company urged the government to “protect and strengthen” the ZEV mandate. Tesla benefits from the policy by selling surplus credits from its imported EVs made in China.
In addition to ZEV policy support, Tesla lobbied for UK leadership in autonomous vehicle development. The company also offered to demonstrate its autonomous driving technology to the government.
The BBC reported that Musk’s controversial political remarks contributed to his exclusion from a government investment summit. Despite this, Musk’s influence grew in the US, where he became a key figure for incoming President Donald Trump. Musk’s wealth surged due to Tesla’s rising stock value after the US election.