UK and New Zealand launch major EV and charging infrastructure investments

The United Kingdom and New Zealand are implementing significant financial measures to support the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

In the UK, the government is investing nearly £130 million into the automotive sector through the DRIVE35 programme. This includes approximately £65 million in government funding, matched by industry investment, to advance zero-emission technologies such as self-driving cars and affordable EVs. The initiative aims to support over 1,800 high-value manufacturing jobs and strengthen the nation's position in automotive innovation. This comes amid ongoing debate regarding the 2030 mandate to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles.

In New Zealand, the government has launched a second round of zero-interest loans to accelerate the rollout of public EV charging infrastructure. Approximately NZD 21 million is available to charge point operators to help reach a national target of 10,000 public chargers by 2030. The loans can cover up to 50% of capital costs over terms of up to 13 years. This program aims to address the “chicken-and-egg” problem where consumers hesitate to buy EVs due to limited charging availability, while companies are reluctant to invest without established demand.