The UK's continuation of regulatory alignment with the EU on automotive matters post-Brexit would seem to suggest that the imposition of extra import tariffs on Chinese-made EVs is inevitable, the European bloc having taken that step to protect its industry from cheap imports from China. However, unlike the EU, the UK no longer has much of a mainstream domestic manufacturing industry to protect, so the ‘threat’ isn’t really one at all.
This would also ensure that a more affordable supply of EVs could be offered in the UK as part of the government’s own directive that 80% of car sales must be electric by 2030 – much needed, as the market is already lagging well behind on the 22% mandated this year. More broadly, UK car production needs fresh investment if it ’s to ever grow again. Recent successes have nearly all been about preserving what factories remain, rather than attracting new ones.