The boss of Britain's oldest racing car manufacturer has told GB News of his concerns about the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate despite meeting with the Department for Transport.
In January, Lister, one of the UK's most historic car brands, announced its intention to put all future plans on hold because of uncertainties around the 2030 petrol and diesel car ban and the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
Lister said it had been planning a new road car for "quite some time" but that it plans had to be paused to allow for the Government to make any changes to the ZEV mandate for smaller volume manufacturers.
On Christmas Eve, the Department for Transport launched a new consultation which questioned how the ZEV mandate would operate past the 2030 deadline before the 2035 deadline for all new vehicles to be zero emission.
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Lawrence Whittaker told GB News that there were still concerns about the future of the ZEV mandate
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One of the questions seeks opinions from industry experts and automakers about how the ZEV mandate could function for manufacturers which make fewer than 1,000 vehicles a year.
Any brand that registers fewer than 1,000 cars is exempt from all ZEV mandate and CO2 targets until the end of the decade. The consultation questioned whether any small or micro-volume manufacturers should be subject to the 2030 requirements for cars and vans.
Speaking to GB News, Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of Lister Motors, confirmed that he had spoken with the Department for Transport regarding the ZEV mandate and small volume exemption.
He added: "I would say the meeting was constructive, in so far that they are considering extending the Small Volume Vehicle Exemption until 2035.
"However, they were not considering extending it beyond then which still puts all small volume vehicle manufacturers in the dark for the future."
The ZEV mandate consultation notes that smaller volume manufacturers account for a very small proportion of UK vehicle sales, and limited amounts of CO2, playing a vital role in supporting jobs and investment in the UK automotive industry.
In January, other British vehicle manufacturers accounted for 429 registrations of new vehicles, a huge 78 per cent jump compared to the previous year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
A Department for Transport spokesperson told GB News: "We want to support the sector through the transition to electric, as we continue to deliver our growth mission.
"We are therefore currently consulting on requirements between 2030 and 2035, including details for smaller manufacturers, and will confirm details in due course."
Lawrence Whittaker, who is also CEO of WarrantyWise, noted there would be a degree of difficulty for all brands to switch to only selling electric vehicles. He highlighted how large brands may refresh their line-up every year, while smaller volume producers may change every few decades.
He confirmed that he would be taking part in the consultation in hopes the Government will soon provide an update regarding any possible exemptions for smaller volume manufacturers.
While the consultation is set to end on February 18, it may take some time for the DfT to assess the feedback and make a declaration on the future of the ZEV mandate.
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Lister said it would have to pause future plans because of uncertainty around the ZEV mandate
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It is believed that most, if not all, manufacturers have taken part in the consultation to let the Government know what the next steps should be in the ZEV mandate process.
It comes as Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander met with bosses of the biggest automotive brands in anticipation of the ZEV mandate consultation ending.
A DfT spokesperson added: "Last week, the Transport Secretary held a constructive roundtable with leading vehicle manufacturers as part of the consultation on the 2030 phase-out, as we continue to listen to and work closely with industry."
