Committee publication · Correspondence · 19 May 2026
Letter from Ford of Britain relating to strategic recommendations for the Industrial Strategy, 7 May 2026
From: Business and Trade Committee
Inquiry: Industrial Strategy
Summary
Ford of Britain writes to the Business and Trade Committee with three strategic recommendations for the UK Industrial Strategy: accelerate the ZEV Mandate Review from mid-2027 to 2026 to align with realistic EV uptake timelines; strengthen UK-EU trade resilience by renegotiating battery rules of origin and securing 'European' status for UK-manufactured vehicles; and align cross-government policy to support automotive competitiveness, including cancelling the eVED tax and improving charging infrastructure.
Key findings
- Ford urges the Committee to bring forward the ZEV Mandate Review to 2026, concluding in time for 2027 compliance, citing distorted market conditions and widening gaps between compliance targets and customer demand.
- New 10% battery tariffs scheduled for January 2027 under EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement require renegotiation; Ford recommends phased implementation while retaining incentives for European battery supply chain investment.
- Ford calls for UK-manufactured components and vehicles to secure 'European' status to protect export competitiveness and prevent disadvantage against new market entrants.
- The eVED 'pay per mile' tax for battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles should be cancelled to avoid stalling EV sales before the market matures; Ford supports long-term road user charging but opposes premature introduction.
- Public charging infrastructure must be made more affordable and reliable to address 'charge anxiety' and enable widespread EV adoption beyond households with driveways.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Ford of Britain, Lisa Brankin, Liam Byrne MP, Business and Trade Committee, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover), Department for Business and Trade, Department for Transport, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, HM Treasury
Notable line
“… the UK cannot achieve manufacturing success without market success. To ensure the long- term competitiveness of the UK's industrial base and our highly skilled workforce …”
Key Quotes
“At Ford, we remain firm in our belief that the UK cannot achieve manufacturing success without market success.”
“We ask the Committee to support bringing the ZEV Mandate Review forward to 2026, concluding in time to take effect in the 2027 compliance year.”
“… we believe a successful transition requires a more realistic regulatory path that encompasses a broad range of technologies.”
“The new "pay per mile" tax for battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles risks stalling electric vehicle sales at a time when new consumer demand needs to be stimulated.”
“Charge anxiety remains a barrier to adoption of electric vehicles and the ability to charge reliably and affordably, including using the public charging network, is essential enabling widespread demand beyond those with a driveway.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗