Latest news with #EVgrant
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
New cheapest electric car in Britain
The £14,995 Dacia Spring is no longer Britain's cheapest electric car... for the time being, anyway. It has lost its crown to a Chinese newcomer, which today announced it is slashing its model prices in response to the Government's new Electric Car Grant. Leapmotor - which recently agreed a deal with Stellantis to stock its Chinese-made EVs in the European giant's network of UK showrooms - has knocked £1,500 off the price of its T03 city car. which has a range of 165 miles on a full charge. This has slashed the price to £14,495 - undercutting Dacia's bargain battery model by £500 - to make it the most affordable new EV sold in Britain. Leapmotor's only other model sold in the UK, the C10 family SUV, is also being discounted by £3,750 with immediate effect. The size of these two price cuts matches the minimum and maximum discount being offered through Labour's new Electric Car Grant announced on Monday. However, while Leapmotor claims the 'Leap-Grant' is being offered to customers now to avoid delays waiting for the Government scheme's arrival, reports suggest it and other Chinese brands are unlikely to qualify for the taxpayer-funded subsidies at all. The Electric Car Grant (ECG) - announced by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander this week - is the Government's new big hope to reignite demand for EVs, as it continues to steer towards outlawing sales of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030. However, it won't be available with immediate effect. This is because manufacturers need to apply to be eligible for the scheme, which could take weeks, experts have hinted . Leapmotor UK says this is why it is, 'taking a proactive leap forward to help electric car buyers save up to £3,750 immediately, by launching its own self-funded EV grant, effective from today'. It adds: 'This initiative makes Leapmotor the first car manufacturer in the UK to offer such a grant since the Government announced its own EV grant scheme, which won't kick in for consumers until next month.' For the Government scheme, only cars up to £37,000 qualify, which rules out premium models, including every Tesla on sale. No Audi, BMW or Mercedes EV will be eligible either. This might sound like good news for Leapmotor and its budget-friendly model offering, but reports have suggested it - and other Asian brands - will fail to meet a secondary stipulation put in place by government to qualify for the ECG. In order to be eligible, manufacturers must meet specific sustainability criteria, based on the Science-Based Target (SBT). This is an industry-wide green standard providing scores for companies reflective of the carbon impact of manufacturing products - in this instance, electric cars and their batteries. Only the greenest companies will receive the full £3,750 grant subsidy, while those considered to only meet a lower band will be issued £1,500 discounts, the DfT has confirmed. However, vehicles that don't meet a minimum threshold - which is yet to be divulged - will not receive a grant at all. Reports have suggested that Chinese EV makers could fall foul of the emissions-based rules. As could other Asian manufacturers, including those from Korea and Japan, according to Autocar . Speaking on the BBC's Today programme on Wednesday (16 July), Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said she did not expect any cars that are produced in China to be eligible. 'The grant is restricted to those manufacturers that reach minimum environmental standards,' she said. 'And, frankly, if you generate a lot of the electricity that powers your factory through coal power stations, then you are not going to be able to access this grant.' According to The Telegraph , the Chinese embassy has hit hack and the scheme's stringent requirements. It has called on the UK to follow World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and create a 'non-discriminatory environment for investment'. WTO rules stipulate that members must not give favourable treatment to one country over another when it comes to trading goods and services. An embassy spokesperson added: 'The Chinese side is closely following the situation and will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.' China's - and the world's - biggest EV maker, BYD, has informed the DfT of its intention to apply for eligibility for the Electric Car Grant and said it looks forward to being 'part of it'. Leapmotor says, like consumers, it is 'still waiting to learn which vehicles will qualify, how much financial support will be available, and when the grants will take effect'. Its terms and conditions say discounts are subject to orders placed between 18 July and 30 September 2025 from authorised Leapmotor retailers. However, if it fails to qualify for the Government grant on sustainability grounds, it might be forced to extend the deals. That said, Dacia's Spring - which costs from £14,995 and has been Britain's cheapest EV for the last 12 months - is also produced in China. In fact, it's manufactured in Covid-originating Wuhan by Dongfeng Renault - a joint venture between Dacia's parent company Renault Group and Dongfeng Motor Group. Whether it will qualify for the Government's £1,500 to £3,750 grants is yet to be seen. For the next two months at least, the T03 is being knocked down from £15,995 to just £14,995 with a £1,500 discount applied. Those using Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) finance can pick one up before the end of September for £169 per month and £169 deposit on 0 per cent APR for four years. The bigger C10 SUV is slashed by £3,750 to £32,750 or on a 0 per cent four-year PCP contract for £319 per month and £319 deposit. 'Our mission is to help make the leap to electric cars easy for UK drivers,' said Damien Dally, managing director at Leapmotor UK. 'We've decided to act now because we want to give customers clarity, confidence, and immediate savings – and make the switch to electric a simple choice.' Both cars come with a four-year warranty, while their batteries are covered by a separate eight-year guarantee. Chinese rival Great Wall Motor (GWM) has also since launched its own £3,750 'Green Grant' for the Ora 03. 'The initiative follows the recent announcement that the UK Government's electric vehicle grant includes will focus on a specific set of vehicles, leaving many customers confused and waiting to see if models like Ora 03 will qualify,' the company said. It means the entry-level Ora 03 PURE now starts from £21,245.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Leapmotor reduces its BEV prices by around 10% in the UK
The Stellantis-Leapmotor JV, Leapmotor International, has announced cuts of around 10% to its all-electric car prices in the UK car market. Leapmotor says the 'Leap-grant' reductions are immediately available on its China-built models and are ahead of the UK government's new BEV grants which will be introduced shortly (full details on implementation still unclear). Effectively, they come into effect a few weeks before the UK gov grants apply and act as a temporary pre-grants discount. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! The Insurance Savings You Expect Great Rates and Award-Winning Service Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You From 18th July, the brand says it is is flipping the switch with its own self-funded EV grant – offering up to £3,750 off its electric car range immediately. That makes the T03 5-door electric city car available at just £14,495 OTR (on the road), and the C10 family SUV available from £32,750 OTR – both available with 0% APR finance. Leapmotor says the move gives its buyers clarity and savings now, while the government scheme still remains to kick in for UK car buyers. 'Our mission is to help make the leap to electric cars easy for UK drivers,' said Damien Dally, Managing Director, Leapmotor UK. 'We've decided to act now because we want to give customers clarity, confidence, and immediate savings – and make the switch to electric a simple choice.' The Leapmotor T03 is a compact electric city car which offers up to 165 miles range (WLTP), rapid DC charging, 10 ADAS features and many premium touches as standard, including a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, rear parking camera with sensors, keyless start, and 10.1″ touchscreen. The C10 is described by Leapmotor as a spacious, tech-rich, large electric family SUV offering up to 263 miles of range (WLTP). It comes with premium features such as a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, heated steering wheel and seats, 12-speaker audio and dual HD displays. The C10 also comes with intelligent ambient lighting, vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, a heat pump, power tailgate and a five-star Euro NCAP rating with multiple advanced driver assistance systems. Furthermore, every Leapmotor vehicle is backed by a 'comprehensive four-year warranty', while the battery is covered by a separate eight-year guarantee, it says. Leapmotor International is Stellantis-led JV company – with a 51/49 ownership split between Stellantis and China-based Leapmotor. "Leapmotor reduces its BEV prices by around 10% in the UK" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
New cheapest electric car in Britain: Chinese brand slashes price as reports suggest it WON'T qualify for government's EV grant
The £14,995 Dacia Spring is no longer Britain's cheapest electric car... for the time being, anyway. It has lost its crown to a Chinese newcomer, which today announced it is slashing its model prices in response the Government's new Electric Car Grant. Leapmotor - which recently agreed a deal with European giant Stellantis to share its Chinese-made EVs in its network of UK showrooms - has knocked £1,500 off the price of its T03 city car, which has a range of 165 miles on a full charge. This has slashed the price to £14,495 - undercutting Dacia's bargain battery model by £500 to make it the most affordable new EV sold in Britain. Leapmotor's only other model sold in the UK, the C10 family SUV, is also being discounted by £3,750 with immediate effect. The size of these two price cuts matches the minimum and maximum discount being offered through Labour's new Electric Car Grant announced on Monday. However, while Leapmotor claims the 'Leap-Grant' is being offered to customers now to avoid delays for the Government scheme's arrival, reports suggest it and other Chinese brands are unlikely to qualify for the taxpayer-funded subsidies at all... The Electric Car Grant (ECG) - announced by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander this week - is the Government's new big hope to reignite demand for EV as it continues to steer towards outlawing sales of petrol and diesel cars in 2030. However, it won't be available with immediate effect. This is because manufacturers need to apply to be eligible for the scheme, which could take weeks, experts have hinted. Leapmotor UK says this is why it is 'taking a proactive leap forward to help electric car buyers save up to £3,750 immediately, by launching its own self-funded EV grant, effective from today.' It adds: 'This initiative makes Leapmotor the first car manufacturer in the UK to offer such a grant since the Government announced its own EV grant scheme, which won't kick in for consumers until next month.' For the Government scheme, only cars up to £37,000 qualify, which rules out premium models, including every Tesla on sale. No Audi, BMW or Mercedes EV will be eligible either. This might sound like good news to Leapmotor and its budget-friendly model offering, but reports have suggested it - and other Asian brands - will fail to meet a secondary stipulation put in place by government to qualify for the ECG. In order to be eligible, manufacturers must meet specific sustainability criteria based on their Science-Based Target (SBT). This is an industry-wide green standard providing scores for companies reflective of the carbon impact of the production of products - in this instance, electric cars and their batteries. Only the greenest companies will receive the full £3,750 grant subsidy, while those considered to only meet a lower band will be issued £1,500 discounts, the DfT has confirmed. However, vehicles that don't meet a minimum threshold - which is yet to be divulged - will not receive a grant at all. Reports have suggested that Chinese EV makers could fall foul of the emissions-based rules. As could other Asian manufacturers, including those from Korea and Japan, according to Autocar. The Government insists every car maker qualifying for the grant must achieve certain industry scores for the green production of its cars and batteries. Reports have suggested that Chinese marques might not make the cut Leapmotor says, like consumers, it is 'still waiting to learn which vehicles will qualify, how much financial support will be available, and when the grants will take effect'. Its terms and conditions say its discounts are subject to orders placed between 18 July and 30 September 2025 from authorised Leapmotor retailers. However, if it fails to qualify for the Government grant on sustainability grounds, it might be forced to extend the deals availability. That said, Dacia's Spring - which costs from £14,995 and has been Britain's cheapest EV for the last 12 months - is also produced in China. In fact, it's manufactured in Covid-originating Wuhan where it is built by Dongfeng Renault, a joint venture between Dacia's parent company Renault Group and Dongfeng Motor Group. Whether it will qualify for the Government's £1,500 to £3,750 grants is yet to be seen. Powered by a 37.3kWh battery and a 95hp (70kW) electric motor and riding on skinny 15-inch wheels, the T03 has a claimed average range of 165 miles (245 miles if driving only in town) For the next two months at least, the T03 is being knocked down from £15,995 to just £14,995 with a £1,500 discount applied. Those using Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) finance can pick one up before the end of September for £169 per month and £169 deposit on 0 per cent APR for four years. The bigger C10 SUV is slashed by £3,750 to £32,750 or on a 0 per cent four-year PCP contract for £319 per month and £319 deposit. 'Our mission is to help make the leap to electric cars easy for UK drivers,' said Damien Dally, managing director at Leapmotor UK. 'We've decided to act now because we want to give customers clarity, confidence, and immediate savings – and make the switch to electric a simple choice.' Both cars come with a four-year warranty, while their batteries are covered by a separate eight-year guarantee.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
How to get £3,750 towards a new electric car
Drivers could save up to £3,750 on a new electric car under a revived government scheme aimed at accelerating the switch away from petrol and diesel vehicles. The new Electric Car Grant will apply to electric vehicles (EVs) priced at less than £37,000, with the largest savings reserved for the most environmentally sustainable vehicles. The move comes three years after the plug-in car grant (PiCG) was wound down under the former Conservative government. At the time, the scheme offered up to £1,500 off a new plug-in vehicle costing less than £32,000. Here, Telegraph Money explains how the new EV grant works, how much it's worth and which EVs qualify. How does the new grant work? The Electric Car Grant is backed by £650m of government funding, and will run until 2028 to 2029. Car manufacturers will be able to apply for the grant from July 16. Once approved, a discount will automatically be deducted from the purchase price of eligible EVs, and the manufacturer can reclaim this amount from the Treasury. It means that, unlike the old scheme, buyers won't have to do anything to take advantage of the discount. The grant forms part of a wider EV strategy, including a separate £63m investment to expand Britain's EV infrastructure. Of that, £25m will support 'cross-pavement technology' to help households without driveways to charge EVs from their home power supply. How much is the EV grant worth? Under the EV grant, drivers will be able to claim a discount worth up to £3,750 on a brand new EV. The size of the discount will depend on the vehicle's sustainability criteria. Although full details have yet to be disclosed by the Government, the greenest vehicles will qualify for the full £3,750 discount. The rest will receive a smaller discount of up to £1,500.
Auto Express
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New £3,750 EV grant to make electric cars cheaper than ever
Electric cars are about to get more affordable after the UK government announced the relaunch of an EV grant scheme which will cut the price of a new zero-emissions car by up to £3,750. The new Electric Car Grant will be available on EVs costing under £37,000 and only those models from manufacturers that have committed to a so-called Science-Based Target (SBT) for emissions and have already showcased reductions because of this. The ECG will be available in two tiers; cars deemed the most environmentally friendly will be liable to receive the full £3,750 discount, while those not quite deemed green enough will instead be discounted by £1,500. As only cars costing under £37,000 will be eligible, the UK's best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y is among a large list of EVS not in-line for government grants. Advertisement - Article continues below The £650 million total funding for the EV grant would be enough to subsidise around 173,000 electric car purchases at the maximum grant amount of £3,750 per vehicle. That's about half the total number of EVs registered in the UK last year. Auto Express is awaiting clarification on how individual models will be rated in terms of how sustainable they are, but a full list will eventually be available on the government website. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Regardless, the re-introduction of the grant has been well-received across the industry, with Renault's managing director, Adam Wood calling it a 'much-needed signal that Government is ready to put tangible action behind the ambitious plans for the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) that it has outlined.' The AA said it is 'pleased [its] calls have been heard', while CEO of charging firm InstaVolt, Delvin Lane, claimed the government's announcement 'could not [have] come at a better time.' Just under 50 new electric car models would be eligible for the EV grant, if their makers pass the necessary criteria, with more becoming clear in the coming days. There are also a number of electric cars that are just outside the £37,000 threshold and manufacturers will be reviewing whether to lower the prices on these models in order to qualify. We have also seen heavy discounting on new electric cars over recent months through our Find A Car service, with manufacturers keen to boost demand. The grant will be applied on the car's recommended retail price (RRP) but it is likely that some level of discounts will remain in place in addition to the new EV grant, in many cases. Many EVs narrowly miss out on the £37,000 cut-off point for EV grant eligibility, including the Vauxhall Grandland Electric (£37,355), the Renault Scenic (£37,195) and the BYD Atto 3 (£37,705). Manufacturers of EVs in the £37k to £40k price bracket are sure to be looking at their pricing structures with a view to bringing the starting prices down and qualifying for the grant. Below are the UK's cheapest electric cars under the £37,000 price ceiling for the EV grant. These models could qualify for the grant if they meet the sustainability criteria. Car name Price from Car name Price from 1 Dacia Spring £14,995 26 Peugeot e-208 £30,150 2 Leapmotor T03 £15,995 27 BYD Dolphin £30,205 3 BYD Dolphin Surf £18,650 28 Volkswagen ID.3 £30,860 4 Fiat Grande Panda £21,035 29 Citroen e-Berlingo £31,240 5 Citroen e-C3 £22,095 30 Toyota Proace City Verso EV £31,995 6 Renault 5 £22,995 31 Peugeot e-Rifter £32,250 7 Hyundai Inster £23,005 32 Vauxhall Mokka Electric £32,430 8 Citroen e-C3 Aircross £23,095 33 Renault Megane E-Tech £32,495 9 Vauxhall Frontera Electric £23,995 34 MINI Countryman Electric £33,005 10 GWM Ora 03 £24,995 35 Kia EV3 £33,005 11 Fiat 500e £25,035 36 Volvo EX30 £33,060 12 Vauxhall Corsa Electric £26,780 37 Omoda E5 £33,065 13 MINI Cooper Electric £26,905 38 Alpine A290 £33,500 14 Renault 4 £26,995 39 Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica £33,906 15 MG4 £26,995 40 Smart #3 £33,960 16 Citroen e-C4 £27,650 41 Vauxhall Astra Electric £34,130 17 MGS5 EV £28,495 42 Hyundai Kona Electric £34,500 18 Citroen e-C4 X £28,715 43 Peugeot e-2008 £35,400 19 MINI Aceman £28,905 44 Cupra Born £35,690 20 Smart #1 £29,960 45 Vauxhall Grandland Electric £36,455 21 Abarth 500e £29,985 46 MG4 XPower £36,495 22 Ford Puma Gen-E £29,995 47 Leapmotor C10 £36,500 23 Jeep Avenger £29,999 48 Abarth 600e £36,985 24 Suzuki e-Vitara £29,999 49 KGM Torres EV £36,995 25 Fiat 600e £30,035 50 Skywell BE11 £36,995 That's not all, however, as the government has also invested £25 million to aid private councils in installing cross-pavement charging solutions; these so-called 'gulleys' involve digging a small trench into the pavement in which a flap will be installed, allowing a charging cable to be draped across the road without becoming a trip hazard. Co-founder of cross-pavement charging solution firm, KerboCharge, Michael Goulden, said he was 'delighted by the news of the Government grant', stating that it 'demonst[es] the Government's backing for cross-pavement charging and subsidising the cost for tens of thousands of UK households.' That £25 million comes as part of a larger £63 million lump sum towards building appropriate signage for EV charging stations, something founder of campaign group, FairFuel UK, Quentin Wilson, said was 'a very welcome development'. 'I'm overjoyed to see that finally non-EV drivers will see that there is a charging infrastructure to give them the confidence to switch,' Wilson explained. 'Years of not having any charging signage on our roads has helped stoke the myth 'there's no infrastructure'. Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter. If you want to buy an electric car, we can help with that too... Find a car with the experts New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why Vauxhall Mokka vs Hyundai Kona: small hybrid SUVs in a big battle Vauxhall Mokka vs Hyundai Kona: small hybrid SUVs in a big battle Hybrid newcomers slug it out for family buyers' hearts and minds Car group tests 12 Jul 2025
