Stellantis achieves 2024 ZEV mandate targets for cars and van

Automotive group Stellantis sold enough electric cars and vans to comply with the UK's ZEV mandate targets in 2024.

Across its 11 brands, Stellantis registered 39,492 new electric cars last year. 

The ZEV mandate scheme requires carmakers to sell a certain percentage of electric cars each year. Fines of £15,000 will apply to each car sold outside of the target.

A headline target of 22% applies in 2024, rising progressively to 80% in 2030. For vans the target is 10%.

The targets aren’t as clear cut as they may seem, however. There are multiple ways for car makers to avoid fines without selling the targeted proportion of electric cars.

A credit-based system exists whereby manufacturers can bank credits if they overperform on their targets. These can be used to bolster performance in future years, when the targets become stricter, or can be sold to other brands that are underperforming.

Stellantis claims to have achieved the targets "without resorting to alternative ways of complying". 

Across all brands, Stellantis sold 39,492 electric cars in 2024. It represents an increase of 59% on 2023, when electric car registrations only accounted for around 10% of Stellantis' total sales.

Stellantis Pro One – represented by Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen & Fiat Professional brands – sold 7,821 electric vans in 2024, making it the UK's best-selling electric van maker.

In October, Stellantis throttled the supply of non-electric cars and was pushing electric models with larger discounts. In the last 12 months, overall sales declined by more than 13,000 units and the group sold 25,000 fewer petrol and diesel models.

Eurig Druce, group managing director of Stellantis UK, said: “2024 saw more people than ever purchase an EV and I’d like to thank our customers who have decided to switch to electric with one of our brands and also to our incredible UK retailer network for making it happen. 

"Stellantis welcomes the UK Government's consultation on the phase out of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and support for zero-emission transition. Our ambition for 100% zero-emission vehicles is clearly explained in our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan – our goals are aligned. 

"However, despite offering a very comprehensive line-up of popular electric cars and vans, and a strong will and focus on making our EVs as attainable as possible, the steep trajectories of the ZEV mandate are out of step from current demand. Put simply, if the UK is to achieve its transport emission ambitions, and for EVs to represent 80% of new cars sold in 2030, then consumers are going to need more encouragement from Government to do so.”

The Government launched a consultation, in December, to to finalise its plans to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Within this are proposals to modify the ZEV Mandate targets in order to provide manufacturers with greater flexibility.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “It’s great to see that Stellantis has met its EV sales target for 2024, increasing on year sales by more than half. 

“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.

“2024 was also a record year for the rollout of chargepoints, with nearly 20k public chargers added to the network last year and a further 100,000 in the pipeline thanks to Government support.

“We’re investing over £2.3 billion to make the transition to zero-emissions vehicles a success, unlocking a multibillion-pound industry and creating high-quality jobs that will drive growth for decades to come.”