BMW’s Job Warnings Clash with Campaigner’s “Cynical Tactic” Accusation

A war of words has erupted over the UK’s electric car policy, pitting BMW’s stark warnings of job losses against campaigners’ accusations of “cynical tactics.” This clash highlights the deep ideological divide over the pace of the UK’s green transition.
BMW, a major UK employer through its Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, told the government in a private submission that the ZEV mandate could have a “detrimental effect on the 8,000 jobs” it directly provides. The German automaker argued the policy was too “radical” for an already challenging post-Brexit manufacturing environment.
This narrative of economic risk was flatly rejected by advocates for the policy. Tom Riley, the author of the newsletter that uncovered the documents, slammed the approach, stating, “threatening UK jobs and investment to weaken climate policy is a cynical tactic.” Pro-EV groups believe the industry is manufacturing a crisis to protect its profits from petrol car sales.
The government’s decision to relax the rules suggests that BMW’s warnings, echoed by other carmakers, were more persuasive than the campaigners’ accusations. The episode serves as a stark example of how the threat of job losses, whether genuine or tactical, remains one of the most powerful tools in corporate lobbying.