‘Disaster’ as Ed Miliband ‘deindustrialises UK at | Tech News

Ed Miliband has been blasted for “de-industrialising” the UK over his net-zero plans to cut petrol and diesel vehicles. The UK Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate guidelines are forcing producers to construct electric vehicles over combustion fashions, with virtually all model new petrol and diesel car gross sales set to be banned by 2030.

However, a new examine by suppose tank Facts4EU reportedly explains that the UK is producing round a million fewer vehicles than simply a decade in the past. Data launched from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) earlier this 12 months discovered that British vehicle manufacturing fell to its lowest degree since 1952.

Just 764,715 autos have been inbuilt 2025, 15.5% down when in comparison with 2024. In comparability, the UK produced 1.7 million vehicles back in 2016. Former Conservative minister John Redwood steered the difficulty lied squarely at Ed Miliband’s door, with UK car corporations not but prepared for mass EV manufacturing. As Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Miliband is liable for the UK’s internet zero plans together with the strict ZEV Mandate targets.

Lord Redwood advised GB News: “The government ordered the industry to produce battery cars. This requires completely new assembly lines, factories and suppliers. The UK is miles behind China in designing and developing EVs. The UK did not move quickly to secure supplies of lithium, rare earths, cobalt, copper, nor to put in battery-making capacity. The Chinese did.

“So today the Government encourages mass imports of cheaper battery cars from China tariff-free alongside importing their solar panels and wind turbines. Net Zero policies are de-industrialising the UK at a terrifying pace, with Mr Miliband the cheerleader.”

China is the market chief within the electric car market, with 12 million electric vehicles produced within the nation in 2024. This accounted for a whopping 70% of international EV manufacturing, with the UK building simply 80,000 fashions compared.

Chinese producers are actually starting to dominate the market regionally, with manufacturers such as Jaecoo and BYD wowing clients.

The European Union has already watered down its car ban targets, with car manufacturers solely required to make sure 90% of model new fashions are zero-emission by 2035.

However, the Department for Transport (DfT) is urgent forward, with officers beforehand telling Express.co.uk that the car ban would come into impact in 2030. The solely exception to the rule can be hybrid fashions and a few low-volume producers.

Express.co.uk has contacted the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for remark.