Richard,
The issue for Ford, Stellantis, etc is not one of U.K. net zero policy (almost all countries have net zero compliance requirements) it is two fold
1) Flip-flopping regulatory requirements from national governments including ours.
2) Some OEMs, like those mentions, who have been slow to embrace EV / REEV, synthetic fuel technologies. That is a management issue.
Yes China are winning, but mostly because their Govt set a policy of transition to New Energy Vehicles starting in 1992 and consistently stuck to it over all of their intervening 5 year industrial strategy plans.
You cannot put technology back in the box; companies have to exploit cutting edge technologies and those that legislate against them, or try to hide behind tariffs barriers, will eventually die.
EVs are a relevant technology, complimented by other emerging technologies like synthetic fuels. EV in-particular raised the thermodynamic bar to a level unobtainable by ICE. Battery Technology is fast evolving to support the grid and allow for decentralised and democratised energy generation. The U.K. has not lost this race and in fact leads in some areas of software and electronic control - we have a thriving university spin-out culture.
Rather than being divisive about net zero, it would be better to advocate for U.K. industry to lead the maturation of its superb technology, supported by Govt to help avoid the TRL4-7 “Valley of Death”. As ever, I remain open to discussing both battery and vehicle technology in detail with you and demonstrate why firm and consistent policy is important to our transport and supporting industries - including for example indigenous virgin steel manufacturing.