Tesla, the electric vehicle (EV) giant led by Elon Musk, reportedly lobbied the UK government to impose higher charges on petrol and diesel car drivers. The move aimed to boost sales of electric cars and expand policies favoring zero-emission vehicles, as revealed by a Freedom of Information request.
This lobbying effort coincided with the early days of the Labour government, shortly after their general election victory. While Musk openly criticized UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on social media, Tesla was actively engaging with government officials behind the scenes.
Tesla’s European boss, Joe Ward, sent a letter to Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood in July, urging the UK to extend electric vehicle mandates to include lorries. He also proposed that subsidies for EVs be funded by charging those purchasing new petrol or diesel vehicles.
“The government should ask those still choosing to purchase a new polluting vehicle, to pay more,” Ward wrote, emphasizing Tesla’s support for Labour’s strong stance on decarbonization and net-zero goals.
The letter was part of a broader push by Tesla to ensure policies like the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate remain robust.
The ZEV mandate is a policy that requires car manufacturers to sell a minimum number of electric vehicles each year. Companies failing to meet their targets must purchase credits from EV makers that exceed their quotas.
While traditional carmakers have urged the UK government to ease the ZEV mandate, citing low consumer demand for EVs, Tesla argued for the opposite. The firm called for the mandate to be strengthened, highlighting its potential benefits for reducing emissions and promoting cleaner technologies.
Tesla, which imports EVs from China, stands to gain significantly from the ZEV mandate as it can sell surplus credits to other manufacturers.
Beyond EV mandates, Tesla also pushed for the UK to take the lead in developing autonomous vehicle technology. The company offered to demonstrate its vision for the future of self-driving cars, aligning with its long-term goal of dominating the autonomous vehicle market.
Tesla’s lobbying efforts were revealed just weeks after Elon Musk criticized the UK government online. He voiced strong opinions on social media, predicting “civil war” and expressing dissatisfaction with Labour’s handling of summer riots.
Interestingly, Tesla’s internal communications praised the government for its commitment to decarbonization and growth toward net-zero emissions by 2030.
Elon Musk’s political engagements have often drawn attention. In the UK, Musk’s outspoken comments reportedly led to his exclusion from a government investment summit in September. At the same time, his relationship with the US government has strengthened, with Musk becoming a key figure in President Donald Trump’s administration.
The surging value of Tesla shares, driven by Musk’s strategic moves, has significantly increased his wealth. His involvement in global politics and his influence on EV policies remain critical to Tesla’s continued success.
Tesla’s efforts to shape UK policies reflect the company’s aggressive strategy to lead the EV market. By advocating for stricter ZEV mandates and higher costs for petrol and diesel vehicles, Tesla positions itself as a champion of clean energy.
However, these moves also raise questions about fairness and the pace of EV adoption. While Tesla’s proposals aim to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, critics argue that the infrastructure and consumer readiness may not yet support such rapid changes.
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