Thu, 20 Nov 2025

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 Ford boss: 'Now is not the time to tax electric vehicles'

Ford's UK boss says it is "not the right time" to tax electric vehicles when demand has already stalled.
Ford UK's managing director Lisa Brankin has expressed concerns that introducing new taxes on electric vehicles (EVs) could discourage people from buying them, particularly when demand is already low. The Treasury is reportedly considering introducing new levies on EVs in the upcoming Budget, which would add to the costs for drivers who are already struggling with high prices. According to Brankin, this move would be "another brake" on the sales of EVs, which have seen a decline in recent months. Brankin also pointed out that potential EV owners may be put off by the administrative task of calculating their mileage for a pay-per-mile charge, which is being considered by the Chancellor. She argued that making people buy something they don't want would be challenging, and that EVs should not be pushed on consumers. Ford sells more vehicles in the UK than any other manufacturer, but its sales figures show that the market for EVs still has a long way to go. While there is a government grant of up to £3,750 available to encourage people to buy EVs, Brankin said that Ford would not be able to reach the target of 80% EV sales by 2030 without further support from the government. The UK's net zero plan requires 80% of new car sales to be electric by 2030, but the current sales figures show that fully-electric vehicles made up just 22.4% of total new car sales in the year to October 2025. Brankin urged the Chancellor to retain the tax benefits for companies that are "greening" their vehicle fleets, and said that the shift to EVs could have significant consequences for the staff at Ford's Dagenham plant.
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