This is why we’re calling for the government to introduce a simple Large Vehicle Levy on these cars, to help to close this gap while raising almost 2 billion annually for public services from next year.

You can find out more information on SUV sales and our Large Vehicle Levy campaign here ⬇️

Yet the UK acts a tax haven for these cars, with UK buyers paying just £3,200 in tax on a luxury SUV such as the BMW X5, while a French buyer would pay 20 times more.

More SUVs means more pollution, more safety risks, and more road wear. The data shows:

- SUV causes 16 times more road damage than a one-tonne car
- SUVs consume around 20% more fuel than an average medium-size non-SUV car
- Pedestrian fatality risks increase by 82% for children and 44% for adults

The shift to electric vehicles is also dominated by SUVs; they now represent 71% of new battery electric vehicle registrations, up from 43% in 2021.​

SUVs now make up a majority of sales all powertrains - from petrol and diesel to hybrids and even battery electric vehicles.

Data from the first half of this year shows two-thirds of all new cars sold now are classified as SUVs, increasing from 51% to 66% over the last four years.

Thank you so much to everyone that came by and to colleagues at T&E UK and Serious People for all their hard work on this event.

Now to continue our work campaigning for the Large Vehicle Levy!

💰 Our Large Vehicle Levy would raise 2 billion by taxing oversized luxury SUVs while protecting typical family cars.

🛣️ This extra £2 billion could be spent on helping low income families access EVs, increased safety provisions, and fixing the potholes caused by large vehicles.

🚗 We showed how cars have got bigger over time - with sales now dominated by oversized SUVs. These cars are more dangerous to pedestrians, cause greater road wear, and are significantly more polluting than their smaller alternatives.

We urge the government to create a new opt-out sickness insurance for the self-employed, funded by workers and engagers, alongside other vital reforms.

Much more to come in the upcoming report from @thefabians.bsky.social !

This is my penultimate publication before moving on from the Fabians, so it’s amazing to see such strong engagement with the report.

Now onto my final publication on sick pay for the self-employed…

5. Mandate all 600 large food businesses to commit to the food waste reduction roadmap, rather than relying on voluntary commitments.

You can view the full report and its recommendations here:

fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...

3. Abolish VAT for building refurbishments and repairs to level the playing field with new builds.

4. Ensure the National Wealth Fund invests in infrastructure for large scale critical mineral recycling, stimulating further private sector investment.

We suggest that the government should:

1. Introduce a target for England to reduce raw material use to under 8 tonnes per person by 2050.

2. Introduce a cap on repair prices to create a true ‘right to repair’ for consumers.

The report explores practical steps to cut waste and scale up the circular economy in England.

With the UK’s material footprint now at its highest level since 2008—and nearly three times what the UN deems sustainable—the forthcoming circular economy strategy is a vital chance to turn the tide.

You can read ‘Repair, Reuse, Recycle - Making The Circular Economy in England Work At Scale’ here ⬇️

fabians.org.uk/publication/...