Silke Mayr Tesla’s Green Policy Advocacy
Elon Musk’s Tesla lobbied the UK government to increase fees for petrol car buyers after Labour’s general election win. The company aimed to support the government’s green agenda while also boosting its own profits.
Despite Musk’s public criticism of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Tesla advocated for stricter environmental policies. The company proposed extending the electric vehicle (EV) mandate to lorries and suggested that petrol and diesel car buyers should face higher costs to fund EV subsidies.
Tesla’s European chief, Joe Ward, explained this proposal in a letter to Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood. The July-dated letter stated that buyers of polluting vehicles “should pay more.”
The letter, released after a Freedom of Information request by EV newsletter The Fast Charge, revealed Tesla’s backing of Labour’s decarbonisation goals. This support contrasted with Musk’s social media criticism of the government following the summer riots.
Debate Over the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate
The UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires carmakers to meet EV sales targets. Carmakers failing to meet targets must buy credits from EV producers with surplus sales. UK carmakers have argued for a relaxation of this policy, claiming customer demand for EVs remains low.
Tesla’s stance opposed this position. The company called on the government to “protect and strengthen” the ZEV mandate. Tesla benefits from the policy as it can sell surplus credits from its imported EVs manufactured in China.
Beyond ZEV policy support, Tesla lobbied the government to lead in autonomous vehicle development. The company also offered to showcase its autonomous driving technology to UK officials.
The BBC reported that Musk’s political remarks led to his exclusion from a government investment summit. Despite this setback, Musk’s influence in the US increased. He became a key figure for incoming President Donald Trump. Musk’s wealth grew significantly due to Tesla’s surging stock value following the US election.