Byline Times is an independent, reader-funded investigative newspaper, outside of the system of the established press, reporting on ‘what the papers don’t say’ – without fear or favour.
To support its work, subscribe to the monthly Byline Times print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, news, and analysis.
The Times newspaper has been made to issue a correction regarding its reporting on electric vehicle (EV) sales, following a rare successful complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) by an anti-misinformation group.
The belated ruling last Thursday came after the the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) challenged claims made in an article by Political Editor Steven Swinford in September about a supposed “fall in demand” for electric vehicles. The claim was contradicted by market data showing EV sales are actually rising.
The case raised alarm bells among climate campaigners about the accuracy of EV market reporting, particularly as it relates to the UK Government’s under-fire Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Initiated under the last Conservative Government, but now facing ire from libertarians and some car-makers, it sets quotas for sales of electric and low-emission vehicles by manufacturers.
Industry experts warn that misleading narratives about EV demand could have serious implications for investment in charging infrastructure and the future of the UK automotive industry as a whole.
A recent CBI Economics report suggests that successful transition to EV manufacturing could grow the UK’s automotive sector by 35% (£16bn) and create 167,000 new jobs. But failure to adapt quickly enough could result in a 73% decline (£34bn) and the loss of over 400,000 jobs.
Don’t miss a story
On the same day as the electric vehicles ruling by Ipso, the watchdog found that a Matthew Parris column in The Times headlined “Mental health industry is cheating the public” – published last August – contained “several inaccuracies on a topic of public interest and significance: welfare payments made to those with disabilities”.
Parris had claimed: “The fastest growing group within [Britain’s economically] inactive cohort are those including mental health disorders in their claim for a personal independence payment (PIP).” PIP is available regardless of whether someone is in work or not.
Ipso found: “The article included several inaccuracies on a topic of public interest and significance.” They ordered a correction in the newspaper’s Corrections and Clarifications column.
The electric vehicles row comes amid wider debate about the Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric vehicles each year.
Supporters argue the mandate is crucial for driving down EV prices through manufacturer competition, ensuring steady growth of the second-hand EV market and providing certainty for infrastructure investors – as well as supporting a green transition in transport.
A House of Lords report last year identified a “concerted campaign of misinformation” regarding electric vehicles, emphasising the need for accurate reporting on the sector’s development.
Despite concerns raised about market performance, official data shows EV sales are in fact meeting targets set out in the Government’s ZEV mandate. Industry analysts stress that maintaining regulatory stability is essential for continued market growth and infrastructure development.
Colin Walker, a spokesperson for the ECIU, said: “The original article claimed: “Concerns about range and the availability of charging points have led to a fall in demand”.
“Except – there hasn’t been a fall in demand. Over the past year, EV sales have risen considerably and consistently. After weeks of attempting to contact both the journalist and the complaints desk, we informed [watchdog] Ipso who found the article raised a possible code breach.
“How did the Times respond? They said “fall in demand” wasn’t referring to a fall in sales… but a fall in “enthusiasm”.
He added: “After a series of conversations mediated by Ipso, in which we conveyed these points, the Times finally agreed to correct its original article, and issue a correction notice at the bottom of the piece. It’s just a shame it took 3 whole months to get there.
“Why did we pursue this? The change might seem small, but media misinformation on EVs is rife…Also, the misleading narrative that demand for EVs is falling is being pushed by some as evidence of the need for the ZEV mandate to be weakened. [That] would be a bad thing.”
ENJOYING THIS ARTICLE? HELP US TO PRODUCE MORE
Receive the monthly Byline Times newspaper and help to support fearless, independent journalism that breaks stories, shapes the agenda and holds power to account.
We’re not funded by a billionaire oligarch or an offshore hedge-fund. We rely on our readers to fund our journalism. If you like what we do, please subscribe.
Ipso said in the ruling: “During the Ipso process, the publication said it did not accept [that] the article breached Clause 1. It said sales and demand are not synonymous, and no successful business model assumed they were: demand corresponded to wants, while sales corresponded to needs. It also said that the article was not an analysis of motor industry sales, but a discussion of political policy and consumer demand, and that an ordinary reader would understand the term “demand” in this context.”
However: “The publication agreed to amend the article in the manner suggested by the complainant, and added [a] footnote clarification to the online article.” It said: “UPDATE: This article was amended on 12 December 2024 to make clear that sales of electric vehicles have been rising.”
“As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the Code,” Ispo added.
The ECIU’s complaint was made under Clause 1 of the Editor’s Code, on grounds of accuracy.