Newly released government documents have shed light on Tesla’s private warnings to the U.K., cautioning against loosening electric vehicle regulations that could hinder battery-electric sales and impact the country’s climate targets. The submissions, obtained by EV newsletter Fast Charge through a freedom of information request and first reported by The Guardian, reveal Tesla’s plea to the government not to introduce new loopholes in the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
In its filings, Tesla emphasized the importance of avoiding regulatory “flexibilities” that could potentially allow automakers to sell more petrol and diesel cars. According to Tesla, such changes could suppress battery electric vehicle supply, have significant emissions consequences, and ultimately risk the U.K. missing its carbon budgets.
These concerns come at a time when the U.K. is navigating conflicting directions in its EV policy landscape. Earlier this year, the government relaxed ZEV rules, causing concern among manufacturers with a focus on electric vehicles. While recent budget announcements introduced new EV purchase grants, they also introduced challenges such as a pay-per-mile tax on electric cars set to begin in 2028 — a move critics fear could dampen demand as EV adoption gains momentum.
Tesla also advocated for more support for the used car market, although specific details on this proposal were heavily redacted in the documents. Additionally, the company suggested banning plug-in hybrids with less than 100 miles of electric-only range after 2030, a move that could impact many popular PHEV models.
Notably, Tesla’s stance is significant considering its strong presence in the U.K., where regulators were among the first globally to approve Full Self-Driving (Supervised) for public use. The country has also courted Tesla to build a Gigafactory, and Tesla is now preparing to enter the U.K.’s household electricity market as an energy supplier, in addition to its strong EV sales.
In contrast, rival automakers like Ford and Mercedes-Benz have lobbied the government in a different direction, expressing concerns that stricter emissions rules post-2030 could affect competitiveness, especially against lower-cost Chinese manufacturers. Their documents revealed calls for lower VAT on public charging and new pricing caps.
As electric vehicle adoption continues to rise — with fully electric vehicles accounting for approximately one in four new cars sold in the U.K. as of October — Tesla is urging London not to jeopardize this momentum. The company warns that relaxing EV rules at this crucial juncture could slow the transition just as electric cars are gaining traction and scaling up.