Discount of up to £3,750 on electric cars set to slash costs for thousands of UK drivers

[salty]

Think the offer started on the 16th July. So we'll probably soon find out. Hopefully they'll come on here, and say they've got the grant and preferably the full grant.

 

[Everest]

Whether the band 2 discount will also apply to those European companies who manufacture in China is unclear.

I was puzzling what European companies have vehicles manufactured in China that are imported into the UK - Google suggests it's BMW iX3, Mini Cooper Electric, Mini Aceman, Cupra Tavascan and Dacia Spring.

 

[JonnyG]

I think it's a case of "Watch this Space" as it's currently as clear as mud which cars will meet the "sustainability criteria" .

 

[Ian Key]

I was puzzling what European companies have vehicles manufactured in China that are imported into the UK - Google suggests it's BMW iX3, Mini Cooper Electric, Mini Aceman, Cupra Tavascan and Dacia Spring.

Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Smart are owned by Geely while SAIC, who own MG, have partnerships with VW and Audi.

 

[salty]

Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Smart are owned by Geely while SAIC, who own MG, have partnerships with VW and Audi.

If it is true. And no Chinese made Cars are allowed. It sounds like a bit of a half arsed scheme to me.

 

[Everest]

Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Smart are owned by Geely while SAIC, who own MG, have partnerships with VW and Audi.

Of course - but I don't consider Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart or MG as European companies any more

 

[NickHeynes]

Of course - but I don't consider Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart or MG as European companies any more

No but that's not the point . Double standards is the point . The government have said as faik, that Chinese built cars will be excluded as China doesn't meet the overall country emission standards due to still having lots of coal fired power stations .
The fact that Volvo and others "appear" to be a European manufacturer but infact are chinese owned seems to have slipped past the UK govt . Logically to me, the rules say that if a car is built by a Chinese owned company it shouldn't qualify regardless of whether it has a BMW badge or VW or MG or something else.
What'll happen if grants for solar panels reappear seeing as most of them are made in China ?

 

[Everest]

Logically to me, the rules say that if a car is built by a Chinese owned company it shouldn't qualify regardless of whether it has a BMW badge or VW or MG or something else.

Agree about the badges - I would have expected the location of assembly to be the key factor regarding eco-credentials of manufacture, rather than ownership of a company. But hey-ho, we can't expect too much logic from governments.

No doubt cars where the discounts will apply will still have their battery cells, tyres, windscreens, switchgear, bearings etc. made in China.

 

[LenEV2016]

Apparently the battery and the electric drivetrain need to have an 8yr warranty to qualify for the full grant, most batteries do but a lot of drivetrains don't. The scheme is sounding more and more half arsed, clarification is needed quickly

 

[Everest]

Apparently the battery and the electric drivetrain need to have an 8yr warranty to qualify for the full grant, most batteries do but a lot of drivetrains don't. The scheme is sounding more and more half arsed, clarification is needed quickly

Hmm - that would be extremely limiting... but, if true, the cynic in me says we then find out that only Tesla's have eco-factories and an 8 year drivetrain warranty and that the Rt Hon Heidi Alexander's partner is CEO of Tesla UK

 

[siteguru]

So only Tesla qualify ... except that none of their cars are available for a list price of £37k or less?

 

[Gomev]

So only Tesla qualify ... except that none of their cars are available for a list price of £37k or less?

A good saving then for the taxpayer