![Mercedes-Benz_eActros_600_(1)[1]](https://d2cohhpa0jt4tw.cloudfront.net/Pictures/274x183/8/1/8/17818_mercedesbenz_eactros_600_11_556244.jpg)
A new government cabinet could be an opportunity for contentious policies such as the zero emissions mandate and electric vehicle excise duty (eVED) to be reconsidered, according to FleetCheck.
The fleet software firm said Prime Minister Andy Burnham had so far said very little about transport, but he kept reiterating themes of being both business friendly and making life easier and less financially onerous for ordinary people.
“Both the ZEV Mandate and eVED would seem to us to fall into these categories,” said FleetCheck CEO Peter Golding.
“They are policies that are expensive and add complication for companies operating cars and vans, and for motorists, too.
“While we understand that fleet is not at the top of the government’s agenda, it would be positive for the sector to be able to open discussions with the appropriate new ministers and their teams in a matter of weeks or months to express our concerns.”
Golding said a criticism of the Starmer government was that it too easily succumbed to “Treasury brain”, where ideas that made financial sense to policy makers often left the people to whom they applied baffled.
“There have been noises from within the Burnham camp that they’d like to listen more closely and hopefully that approach will extend to policies that affect fleets,” Golding added.
“Especially if we are able to see further changes to eVED or secure a delay, that would be a win for the fleet sector.”
Under the ZEV Mandate, manufacturers must ensure an increasing proportion of their new vehicle sales are zero-emission each year or face financial penalties.
However, calls for a review of the mandate have been growing amid concerns that EV affordability, lack of charging infrastructure and weak consumer demand meant assumptions underpinning the strict sales quota should be reassessed.
Since April 2025, electric vans and cars are no longer exempt from VED.
