Lotus excluded from UK 2030 ICE Ban

Not sure if this is new news, but it came up this morning that small UK manufacturing brands will be excluded from the 2030 petrol ban. So Lotus, Caterham etc will be able to continue making cars...

Great news

 

[Nick in Sydney]

Not sure if this is new news, but it came up this morning that small UK manufacturing brands will be excluded from the 2030 petrol ban. So Lotus, Caterham etc will be able to continue making cars...

Great news

Current UK government EV policy is that "small volume car maker" means manufacturing less than 2,500 cars a year. Perhaps this will change given events, but at the moment Lotus Cars doesn't qualify because Emira volumes are well above this.

On the other hand, if the US market is no longer viable for Lotus, then Emira volume might well fall to 2,500!

 

[RoryBellows]

Still plenty of time for that ban to be rolled back.

 

[Biggles of Norwich]

Current UK government EV policy is that "small volume car maker" means manufacturing less than 2,500 cars a year. Perhaps this will change given events, but at the moment Lotus Cars doesn't qualify because Emira volumes are well above this.

On the other hand, if the US market is no longer viable for Lotus, then Emira volume might well fall to 2,500!

Well, as Aston Martin have been mentioned as one of the manufacturers who would be exempted, and they produce around 6,000 cars a year, it would appear that a 2,500 limit is not what the UK Govt have in mind.

 

[cwfg]

Well, as Aston Martin have been mentioned as one of the manufacturers who would be exempted, and they produce around 6,000 cars a year, it would appear that a 2,500 limit is not what the UK Govt have in mind.

It would make more sense that the UK government put limits on UK sales rather than global? It's hard to get exact numbers, but what is available suggests AM produces under 2500 cars for the UK market. EU figures for 2022 were under 2000.

Source: https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/aston-martin-europe-sales-figures

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Not to hit the sales in the UK perhaps? Lotus would certainly fall under 2,500 if that was the case, approx 900 registered in the UK in total at the moment.

 

[EspritGuy]

Not to hit the sales in the UK perhaps? Lotus would certainly fall under 2,500 if that was the case, approx 900 registered in the UK in total at the moment.

Really? I would guessed more for the home country. I thought the approx. 3,000 in NA was a small-ish number. Exclusivity is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Really? I would guessed more for the home country. I thought the approx. 3,000 in NA was a small-ish number. Exclusivity is in the eye of the beholder.

My mistake, now running at 900 a 1/4. Approximately 4800 registered in total.

 

[EspritGuy]

My mistake, now running at 900 a 1/4. Approximately 4800 registered in total.

You were first out of the gate, and setting the pace.

 

[Wolfram]

It would make more sense that the UK government put limits on UK sales rather than global? It's hard to get exact numbers, but what is available suggests AM produces under 2500 cars for the UK market. EU figures for 2022 were under 2000.

Source: https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/aston-martin-europe-sales-figures

In what world would that make more sense? If the reason for banning ICE production is, as stated, to move to carbon net zero (the only purpose of which is to try to slow or stop climate change), then the ban has to apply to all manufactured cars, wherever the product will eventually be sold. Otherwise the whole thing is just a massive hypocritical lie.

That would be just the same as denying the carbon cost of manufacturing and transporting products from overseas.

Oh... wait... the net zero target does exclude international aviation and shipping, and emissions from the production of goods and services imported from other countries... So it is all a lie!

 

[Man.v.Cars]

In what world would that make more sense? If the reason for banning ICE production is, as stated, to move to carbon net zero (the only purpose of which is to try to slow or stop climate change), then the ban has to apply to all manufactured cars, wherever the product will eventually be sold. Otherwise the whole thing is just a massive hypocritical lie.

That would be just the same as denying the carbon cost of manufacturing and transporting products from overseas.

Oh... wait... the net zero target does exclude international aviation and shipping, and emissions from the production of goods and services imported from other countries... So it is all a lie!

Yup, a scam to make more cash. More taxes, higher prices, replacements products have to be purchased. Al 'no more ice caps' Gore worth $+250m and flys private.

 

[cwfg]

In what world would that make more sense? If the reason for banning ICE production is, as stated, to move to carbon net zero (the only purpose of which is to try to slow or stop climate change), then the ban has to apply to all manufactured cars, wherever the product will eventually be sold. Otherwise the whole thing is just a massive hypocritical lie.

That would be just the same as denying the carbon cost of manufacturing and transporting products from overseas.

Oh... wait... the net zero target does exclude international aviation and shipping, and emissions from the production of goods and services imported from other countries... So it is all a lie!

You’ve kind of answered your own question there but your point is taken. I have since read through a lot more material and while it states “cars registered” which could be used as a loophole because cars exported would not be “registered” here, it also states global production in some areas. In any case, lotus far exceeds the threshold with other models so it would unlikely apply in any case,