The ruling on whether Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya can be extradited from Britain to India to face fraud charges will be given on December 10, England's Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said on Wednesday (12).
India wants to extradite 62 year-old Indian businessman from Britain to face criminal action relating to loans taken out by his defunct Kingfisher Airlines and Indian authorities want to recover about $1.4 billion they say Kingfisher owes.
Reuters
The mandate imposes heavy fines on carmakers failing to meet electric vehicle sales quotas
The UK motor industry has warned that massive discounts on electric vehicles are "unsustainable" despite new car registrations exceeding two million for the first time since the pandemic, with concerns growing over the widening gap between consumer demand and government targets.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported 2,020,373 new cars were registered in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of growth. However, the figure remains significantly below the 2.3 m vehicles sold in 2019.
Electric vehicles accounted for 473,340 new registrations, representing a 23.4 per cent market share, a substantial increase from 2024 but falling short of the government's 28 per cent target under the Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate (ZEV Mandate).
The mandate imposes heavy fines on carmakers failing to meet electric vehicle sales quotas, though flexibilities allow manufacturers to avoid penalties through emissions reductions or purchasing surplus credits.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes described the results as "reasonably solid" amid challenging economic conditions but raised alarm over the sustainability of current practices.
The industry provided over £5bn in discounts last year, averaging £11,000 per electric vehicle sold, to meet regulatory requirements.
"It is increasing the number of battery electric vehicles being sold," Hawes told BBC.
"The question is, at what cost?" He urged the government to bring forward a planned 2027 review of the ZEV Mandate, particularly as manufacturers face a more demanding 33 per cent target this year alongside rising energy prices and raw material costs.
Eurig Druce, Stellantis UK's group managing director, echoed calls for an early review, stating "the UK is increasingly out of step with the position in Europe and the rest of the world."
He emphasised that accelerated review would provide manufacturers with investment certainty and help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
Environmental advocates offered contrasting perspectives. Colin Walker of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit welcomed the "bumper year for EV sales," noting benefits for the second-hand market.
However, Ginny Buckley of Electrifying.com warned that drivers lack confidence, requiring "clear messaging and policy stability" to achieve the one-in-three sales target.
The government introduced measures including a £2bn Electric Car Grant Scheme offering up to £3,750 per vehicle, though autumn Budget plans for a per-mile EV tax have raised industry concerns about mixed messaging affecting consumer confidence.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
