EV Discussion thread

JKenH

I wonder what change we might see: lower targets, lower fines, more flexibility - or perhaps no change at all once the matter is discussed with the Secretary of State for ES&NZ?

‘Substantial change’ to ZEV mandate agreed to keep Nissan plant in Britain

According to the Times, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the paper that a ‘substantial change of policy’ had been agreed following conversations with Nissan.

Reynolds didn’t disclose what the changes would be but said the goverment ‘will do everything we can to make sure Nissan has a secure long-term future in the UK’.

The business secretary met with Nissan in Tokyo and told CEO Makoto Uchida that ‘nothing is off the table’.

https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/government-agrees-to-substantial-change-of-policy-to-keep-nissan-manufacturing-in-britain/313259

JKenH

Despite the current lack of love for Tesla in many quarters, sales in March so far have been healthy, with Tesla regaining some of the lost EV market share. Remember we are still waiting for the Model Y Juniper in the UK and sales in the U.S. and China have shot up since it was launched there. While there are a few lunatics around scratching swasticas on cars I suspect the reality is most of the population see Teslas for what they are - cars, and not something to get steamed up about. If it is the best car for you does it matter what the boss f the company making it thinks? The same people up in arms about Musk’s politics don’t seem to bat an eyelid about some of the illiberal policies of the Chinese government which is driving Chinese EV production.

Edit: Meanwhile Cathie Wood is snapping up Tesla shares at bargain prices. Who’s selling - ideologues?

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest Snaps Up Tesla Stock (TSLA) amid 42% Price Drop

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest is taking advantage of the recent dip in Tesla (TSLA) stock by purchasing 9,351 shares through its ARKK ETF (ARKK), totaling nearly $2.21 million. TSLA stock plummeted 41.5% year-to-date primarily due to weak deliveries globally.

https://www.tipranks.com/news/cathie-woods-ark-invest-snaps-up-tesla-stock-tsla-amid-42-price-drop?utm_source=markets.businessinsider.com&utm_medium=referral

JKenH

Tariffs on Teslas?

Asked what the Lib Dem response would be to the latest 25pc tariffs on all car imports to the US, the party’s deputy leader Daisy Cooper told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think there’s only one language that Donald Trump understands, and that is the language of strength.

“We think the Government needs to start preparing for retaliatory tariffs, and that those tariffs, that preparation, should start by looking at putting tariffs on Tesla cars, because clearly Elon Musk is a huge backer of Donald Trump, and that’s where we would start.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/27/markets-live-trump-auto-tariffs-japan-canada-retaliation/

Every cloud has a silver lining. This might give a useful boost to Tesla secondhand values.

MeteredOut

JKenH said:

Every cloud has a silver lining. This might give a useful boost to Tesla secondhand values.

Interesting, but I suspect if the differential between Tesla second had cars and equivalent models from other manufacturers was too large, people would simply buy the latter.

So, I'm not convinced it would drive them up by that much.

Reed_Richards

But there's also the "swasticar" issue where driving a Tesla is now seen as being supportive of Elon Musk's politics.  That could push Tesla car prices down.  

MeteredOut

Reed_Richards said:

But there's also the "swasticar" issue where driving a Tesla is now seen as being supportive of Elon Musk's politics.  That could push Tesla car prices down.  

A friend of mine took a Model Y for a test drive last week, and was adamant he heard the Sat Nav say "at the next roundabout, take the Third Reich."

Martyn1981

MeteredOut said:

Reed_Richards said:

But there's also the "swasticar" issue where driving a Tesla is now seen as being supportive of Elon Musk's politics.  That could push Tesla car prices down.  

A friend of mine took a Model Y for a test drive last week, and was adamant he heard the Sat Nav say "at the next roundabout, take the Third Reich."

That explains a lot, lately whatever destination I enter, the car wants to head into Poland.

Some of the latest anti-Tesla pics are very inventive, my favourite is "0-60 in 1939".

Grumpy_chap

JKenH said:

Tariffs on Teslas?

AIUI, that would actually be technically difficult to implement. It would not be a counter-tariff based on source of origin, which is the normal basis for determination.
It would be quite easy, at present, for any USA-owned car manufacturer to simply manufacture within the USA for USA market and external to USA for RoW markets.  In the case of Tesla, that would mean cars destined for the UK being manufactured in Berlin or Shanghai which is where I think most of the UK vehicles originate from in any case.

I shall not comment further as I am mindful of not veering into political content.  

michaels

Grumpy_chap said:

JKenH said:

Tariffs on Teslas?

AIUI, that would actually be technically difficult to implement. It would not be a counter-tariff based on source of origin, which is the normal basis for determination.
It would be quite easy, at present, for any USA-owned car manufacturer to simply manufacture within the USA for USA market and external to USA for RoW markets.  In the case of Tesla, that would mean cars destined for the UK being manufactured in Berlin or Shanghai which is where I think most of the UK vehicles originate from in any case.

I shall not comment further as I am mindful of not veering into political content.  

This, the rest of the world do not seem to want to buy US manufactured cars for whatever reason whereas US consumers like their foreign luxury motors.  Hence Trumps actions.  US big exports are in thing like entertainment and financial services - problem is these are 'democrat state' industries so there is less political traction if the rest of the world responds with tariffs on disney, goldman sachs and facebook.

Grumpy_chap

Can we get an extra month of free-VED?
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6597673/ev-tax#latest