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Companies representing the UK’s automotive ecosystem have written to the UK Government to emphasise the need for swift action to support the used battery electric vehicle (BEV) market. Representatives from more than 30 companies delivered the open letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, highlighting how the Government can best direct the £1.4bn committed last month to ‘support continued uptake of electric vehicles, including vans and HGVs’.

Progress along the UK’s Road to Zero remains in the balance. Growth in chargepoint numbers and the availability of new electric vehicles is being offset by freefalling used vehicle values and fiercely expensive public charging costs. The assessment comes out of the BVRLA’s annual Road to Zero Report, which explores decarbonisation progress across vehicle supply, demand and infrastructure.

The leasing sector held its ground in 2024 in the face of changeable consumer confidence, growing a modest 0.65% year on year. Budgetary constraints and economic uncertainty took hold of some segments, causing demand to go in different directions between personal and business contracts, with a similar divergence between vans (volume down 10.96%) and cars (up 4.9%). 

The companies responsible for most new electric vehicle registrations have warned the Government that a failure to support the used market will stop the zero-emission transition in its tracks. Writing to the Transport, Environmental Audit and Business Select Committees, signatories are calling for measures that support household and SME access to electric vehicles, and mitigate the volatile residual values denting market confidence.

The UK Government missed an early opportunity to give the transition to zero-emission vehicles some welcome support, failing to reference the impending electric vehicle tax hikes or its recent ZEV Mandate consultation in today’s Spring Statement.

Helping the sector deliver decarbonisation, responding to regulatory scrutiny, and preparing for further change were the three priorities presented to the sector as part of the BVRLA’s Annual Dinner this week.

The BVRLA is offering a new course to help women across its membership feel confident, clear and persuasive when speaking publicly. Taking place across 20 and 21 May, the Women’s Voices in Fleet course, powered by the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), marks the latest development in the strategic collaboration between the two professional bodies.

The UK Government has some of the most ambitious road transport decarbonisation targets in the world but needs to show the same ambition in supporting them.

The popularity of company-provided electric vehicles saw the BVRLA’s leasing fleet grow 1.4% in the last 12 months, offsetting lower demand for vehicles on personal lease agreements and vans. The association’s latest Leasing Outlook report shows that salary sacrifice continues to drive growth in the sector, it is up 51% and sustaining the UK’s transition to cleaner, greener models. 

The BVRLA has welcomed the start of 2025 with a double change at the top of its senior leadership team and committee of management.

The vehicle rental and leasing sector is seeing its optimism and enthusiasm for 2025 shackled by tax rises on top of regulatory and ZEV Mandate uncertainty. That is according to the BVRLA’s latest Industry Outlook Report, which shows that members are expecting somewhat of a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ year in 2025. 

Today’s budget from the Chancellor demonstrates the challenging economic climate facing the nation, but contained some green shoots around road transport decarbonisation, according to the BVRLA.