UK government adds Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall EVs to grant

Thirteen models from the OEMs have been declared eligible under the £650m scheme. In total, the government is investing £4.5bn in the move to boost EV adoption. The grant is capped at vehicles costing up to £37,000 to target support at the most affordable options, according to the government, and more models are expected to be approved in the coming weeks as OEMs’ applications are assessed against the grant’s sustainability standards.

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James Taylor, managing director of Nissan GB said: “The government’s flagship scheme is a clear signal to both customers and manufacturers that they are prioritising the uptake of EVs in the UK and on providing affordable options to consumers.”

“With discounts on 17 car models announced this week alone, we’re delivering on our promise to make it easier and cheaper for families to go electric,” Heidi Alexander, transport secretary of the UK government said. “This is about backing drivers, putting money back into people’s pockets and creating the jobs and growth that will drive Britain forward, delivering on our plan for change.”

The announcement of the additional brands qualifying for the grant comes as several Chinese OEMs are slashing prices to stay competitive with the grant’s discounts. BYD, Leapmotor, MG and Great Wall Motors have all offered discounts to offset the government grant, which is not expected to include many Chinese-made EVs.

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The strategy means that the already highly-competitive Chinese OEMs are able to maintain market share. Just last month, BYD reported that its sales quadrupled year-on-year to reach 3,200 while overall sales declined by 5% to 140,000, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The trade group’s chief executive, Mike Hawes, said that a gap between announcing the grant and providing details of which vehicles would qualify “inevitably led to a pause in purchasing decisions”.

“As we look ahead, the encouraging growth in the emerging used EV sector underlines the necessity of healthy new markets to ensure plentiful supply,” Hawes said. “It is only by maintaining positive momentum and delivering certainty to both consumers and businesses, through clear supportive fiscal policies and investment in infrastructure, that we will fully realise our zero emission ambitions and deliver a cleaner, greener automotive future for all.”