Aston Martin is now exempt from net zero rules - OR IS IT?
Discussion
Elite British carmakers to be spared net zero curbs.
Aston Martin and McLaren are among the small car manufacturers that will no longer be required to phase out the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.
However, the reports issued continue;
- The new plans for smaller manufacturers mean that any carmaker that sells fewer than 2,500 new cars each year will be permanently exempt from the rules.
That could prompt a backlash from firms who narrowly miss out on the exemptions.
Therefore, if 2,500 is the annual total, then Aston Martin will not be exempt,
but if 2,500 is UK only, then they are exempt.
Do you know which?
From Gov UK website.
The wide-ranging package of measures introduced today will also exempt small and micro-volume manufacturers – supercar brands including McLaren and Aston Martin – from the 2030 phase out, preserving some of the UK car industry’s most iconic jewels for years to come.
The wide-ranging package of measures introduced today will also exempt small and micro-volume manufacturers – supercar brands including McLaren and Aston Martin – from the 2030 phase out, preserving some of the UK car industry’s most iconic jewels for years to come.
Jon39 said:
Therefore, if 2,500 is the annual total, then Aston Martin will not be exempt,
but if 2,500 is UK only, then they are exempt.
Do you know which?
Well, they could be exempt on the first 2,500 cars, and not exempt after that...but if 2,500 is UK only, then they are exempt.
Do you know which?
Lotus could even launch a new model - the Lotus Exempt.
I was puzzled by the stated cut-off point, 2,500 vehicles.
I think McLaren annual production is under that figure, whereas Aston Martin is around 6,000.
It would now appear therefore, that exemption is for UK manufacturers producing fewer than 2,500 cars annually,
and if your name is Aston Martin. That has worked out well.
The figures at present seem to be;
34 million cars registered for UK roads.
1.4 million (4 out of every 100) are battery EVs.
(6,740 discounted EVs with fewer than 500 miles need homes, some have been waiting 3 years - source Autotrader.)
During 2024,
1.4 million Petrol, Diesel, and Mild Hybrid new cars were registered.
381,970 Battery Electric new cars were registered.
By having the granted exemption, at least Aston Martin will know by 2030 what is happening regarding EVs, without the financial risk of having to be involved.
With only about 5 years remaining before the 2030 target, it is now obvious that the present rate of adoption suggests that a considerable increase in take-up is necessary. Some might say, that better products do not need either price discounts or government subsidies. By 1935, the decline of battery cars was complete, but that did not occur because internal combustion engine cars required price discounts, or government subsidies.
Jon39 said:
With only about 5 years remaining before the 2030 target, it is now obvious that the present rate of adoption suggests that a considerable increase in take-up is necessary.
The current trade kerpuffle is giving Starmer a possible way out of the 2030 deadline and net zero which we knew was folly to start with. At least when Trump destroys his economy he gets it over with quickly 
I expect you remember the electrical component supply agreement with Lucid;
6 Nov 2023 - Issue of 28 million new shares to a Lucid subsidiary, worth £59.3 million (today £17 million).
Therefore paid for by existing shareholders through dilution.
Plus $132 million cash in phased payments up to 2026.
Both companies have PIF as a shareholder.
I think there is a minimum spend condition in the agreement, but don't have details to hand.
Simpo Two said:
Jon39 said:
With only about 5 years remaining before the 2030 target, it is now obvious that the present rate of adoption suggests that a considerable increase in take-up is necessary.
The current trade kerpuffle is giving Starmer a possible way out of the 2030 deadline and net zero which we knew was folly to start with. At least when Trump destroys his economy he gets it over with quickly Terminator X said:
Makes a lot of sense. Small volumes would never impact world CO2 after all.
TX.
Would keep some highly skilled engineering jobs, and some more manufacturing jobs, so good news for UK plc; applied across Aston, Mclaren, Lotus, Caterham, Morgan. Might actually encourage some more smaller bespoke manufacturers to thrive. Good for engineering and manufacturing in the UK.TX.
Terminator X said:
Makes a lot of sense. Small volumes would never impact world CO2 after all.
TX.
TX.
Neither would the United Kingdom.
I think it is said that the UK emits only 1% of global CO2.
When we have to rely on wind, solar, a little nuclear and the inter-connectors from other countries, everything will be OK on a summer sunny day, when the wind is blowing.
A different situation though during cold winter evenings, when the weather has a low pressure period.
Solar produces nothing (dark), wind produces 3%, as long as an enemy has not sliced our undersea inter-connector cables, we might get 10% from our neighbours and 14% nuclear. Total generation only providing 27% of demand, but we are told not to worry, there are new 'green' industries and thousands of new 'green' jobs.
By an uncanny coincidence, the electricity blackout we would face, is being demonstrated to us at this very moment.
There must be very light winds at present, because 65% of our electricity is now being generated by burning gas, much of which has been brought to this country across oceans by ship and not through a local pipeline from the North Sea. That industry is being taxed to extinction.
As well as living in the dark without heating, we will have no home produced steel to build warships, no communications (undersea cables are so easy to cut), none of our own gas and farmers will have either have sold up to solar farms (to fund inheritance tax) or be growing wild flowers in exchange for government 'green' grants, instead of growing food for us. Imported food could easily be sabotaged by an enemy.
It all seems to be a self inflicted grim future.
Jon39 said:
It all seems to be a self inflicted grim future.
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