On October 6, as reported by the Financial Times, Richard Parker, the Labour Mayor of the West Midlands region in the UK, has appealed to Chancellor John Healy to ease the nation’s electric vehicle production targets, citing concerns over potential harm to the interests of local automakers and suppliers. Under the current policy, 80% of all new cars sold are required to be fully electric by the end of this decade. Parker emphasized that the market demand for electric vehicles has not yet grown to such a level, and that this ambitious target is placing a significant strain on the automotive sector. In response to these concerns, the UK government has initiated a consultation process aimed at potentially lowering the fully electric vehicle target, with proposed adjustments ranging from 50% to 70%, and the remaining portion to be met by hybrid models. Despite this, the government remains steadfast in its commitment to banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Parker noted that there is near-unanimous support from the automotive industry and its suppliers for reducing the target to 50%.