# EV sales targets risk blocking UK investment, industry warns

By Nick Connor — 2026-06-30

Nick Connor, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) said: “The SMMT makes a valid point about the reality check needed on whether the 2030 target for the ZEV mandate can be reached. But whatever happens with the targets, there is no getting away from the fact that the UK is moving to electric vehicles, and the automotive workforce needs to be ready for that future.

“And that means a relaxed target can’t be seen by the wider sector as a signal to slow down on training and skills investment. Every electric vehicle already on UK roads, regardless of what happens to the 2030 target, will need a technician qualified to work on it safely throughout its life. Yet our latest IMI EV TechSafe data shows that only around a third of UK technicians currently hold an EV qualification.

“As soon as the new PM is in place and any shuffling of roles has been completed, the government needs to ensure that while adjusting the targets it puts a focus on skills training. And it needs to provide certainty. The automotive sector has endured too much switching of targets and deadlines in the last decade. It needs a clear picture about the pace of transition so that training providers, employers and individuals can plan investment in skills with confidence. That’s the balancing act that matters most: realistic targets for vehicle sales, matched by an unwavering commitment to making sure the workforce is ready to support them.”

Canonical: https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/150/views/088b4ed272c9a3d3