Latest news with #MikeHawes
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Full list of cars set for £3,750 price cut due to new rule
Drivers of these vehicles could be set to enjoy thousands of pounds in discounts. Drivers buying any of these 40 cars could be eligible for a massive £3,750 discount due to a new Labour rule change. Electric Vehicles (EVs) from brands including Renault, Vauxhall, FIAT, and MINI will see huge price cuts due to the UK Government's new EV grant. Labour's new £650m electric car scheme hopes to make EVs more affordable by offering money-saving discounts on brand new EVs priced under £37,000. Labour confirmed that only vehicles from brands committed to a Science-Based Target (SBT) for cutting emissions will qualify for the scheme. The Government hopes the EV grant will help to narrow the upfront cost difference between petrol cars and electric models. Previous polls suggest upfront costs are still a key barrier to motorists making the transition. The grants are part of the UK's Plan for Change, designed to help households save money while accelerating the switch to greener, zero-emission cars. Alongside the electric car grant, the government also announced it would invest £25m to help local councils install 'cross-pavement' charging solutions. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), claimed the motoring industry wasn't asked for input before the grant was launched, reports Birmingham Live. The SMMT had been pushing for a VAT cut on EVs sold to private buyers, saying that would do more to help the people who really need support. 'We get the ambition behind it,' said Hawes, 'but it's still not very clear.' Speaking when the news was first announced, Iain Reid, head of Editorial at Carwow, welcomed the new savings. Iain said: 'The Government's EV subsidy scheme is a welcome turning point – and one we've long been calling for. The decision to reintroduce support at the point of sale is exactly what's needed to rebuild consumer confidence; a saving of up to £3,750 available until 2028/29 could be decisive for many households considering an electric car for the first time. 'Manufacturers have done their part by bringing EV prices closer to petrol equivalents, and a grant targeted at the more affordable end of the market will help boost momentum.' Full list of cars that could qualify Under £20,000 Dacia Spring - £14,995 £20,000 - £25,000 Fiat Grande Panda - £20,975 Citroën ë-C3 - £21,990 Renault 5 - £22,995 Citroën ë-C3 Aircross - £23,095 Vauxhall Frontera Electric - £23,995 Renault 4 - £24,000 Fiat 500e - £24,995 £25,000 - £30,000 Vauxhall Corsa Electric - £26,895 Citroën ë-C4 - £27,650 MG5 EV - £28,495 Citroën ë-C4 X - £28,715 Smart #1 - £29,960 Ford Puma Gen-E - £29,995 Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. £30,000 - £35,000 Mini Cooper Electric - £30,000 MG ZS EV - £30,495 Volkswagen ID.3 - £30,850 Citroën e-Berlingo - £30,990 Fiat 500e Cabrio - £30,995 Skoda Elroq - £31,510 Mini Aceman - £31,800 Peugeot e-Rifter - £32,230 Peugeot e-2008 - £32,300 Peugeot e-208 - £32,400 Renault Megane E-Tech - £32,495 Fiat 600e - £32,995 Kia EV3 - £32,995 Volvo EX30 - £33,060 Vauxhall Mokka Electric - £33,245 Alpine A290 - £33,500 Ford e-Tourneo Courier - £33,690 Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica - £33,895 Smart #3 - £33,960 Abarth 500e - £34,195 Jeep Avenger Electric - £34,800 Vauxhall Astra Electric - £34,995 £35,000 - £37,000 CUPRA Born - £35,495 Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric - £36,155 MG4 EV XPOWER - £36,495
Telegraph
a day ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Brexit row as Labour aligns with EU on breathalysers for British cars
'Following the UK's exit from the EU, differences between UK and EU regulations mean some manufacturers make cars specifically for the GB market,' said a government spokesman. 'This can add costs to the manufacturing process, which are liable to be passed onto GB consumers, so we're considering aligning with EU car safety regulations to keep car prices down.' Unlike the animal health rules, the European Commission has not asked the UK to align on car safety, which is a purely British decision. British and European law were identical, but in 2022, after the UK left the EU, Brussels introduced the General Safety Regulation 2 (GSR2), which means the rules have diverged. From July last year, all new vehicles in the EU have had to be pre-installed with an interface allowing a breathalyser-based locking system to be connected to the car. This system stops the car working if the driver fails the breathalyser test. The GSR2 also requires Event Data Recorders (EDRs) – similar to airplane black boxes – and Driver Drowsiness Warning (DDAW) in new vehicles. DDAW uses technology to monitor drivers and alert them if they appear to be getting sleepy, while EDRs record data such as the speed travelled before an accident. GSR2 rules already apply on all cars sold in Northern Ireland, which continues to follow many EU rules under the Brexit deal to prevent a hard Irish land border. Divergence risks making it more difficult for Northern Irish consumers to access the British car market, with fears it could push up costs if it continues for much longer. The Government believes that aligning with the EU rules will protect the UK's internal market and mean Northern Irish drivers can keep buying from the mainland. It told The Telegraph all regulatory changes were assessed for their impact on safety and cost. It has already changed British law to mirror Brussels' regulations on in-car e-call systems. The systems automatically contact emergency services if there is a serious accident. There have also been moves to create the legal base for the installation of the breathalyser technology, but not yet to make it mandatory. Even though the safety technology is not compulsory in Britain, many manufacturers install it already because their vehicles are destined for the EU market. Mike Hawes, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said: 'With the heavily integrated nature of the UK and European automotive sectors, regulatory alignment supports efficient production, keeping costs down for consumers while retaining the widest possible model choice.' Sam Lowe, a trade expert and partner at Flint Global, said: 'Ensuring you only need one type approval for the entire European market is a cost saver for anyone selling across all the different countries even if the UK for example had a distinct, better or more simple, regulation. 'The savings have to be pretty big to offset the cost of doing things twice and slightly differently.' 'Alignment by stealth' However, industry sources and the Government said there was some evidence that manufacturers had begun making cars just for the British market, which is the second largest in Europe. Brexiteers said that proved that divergence could work and accused the Government of 'alignment by stealth'. Labour has used statutory instruments, a mechanism to update legislation, to mirror the EU changes to regulations already on British law books as a legacy of bloc membership. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former Tory leader, said: 'They are sneaking this through because statutory instruments do not end up in debate. This is a game being played out where they keep incrementally moving back towards the European Union. This is their plan. This is not a one-off.' Sir Iain said that aligning to typically more draconian EU rules would make cars more expensive and trade deals with car-producing countries, such as the US, harder. 'It screws up all your trade potential elsewhere. Your negotiating capacity is massively reduced,' he added. 'We lose all the competition, all the trade potential, and we lose control. Because now some faceless bureaucrats in Brussels run the UK, which is what we left the EU to stop.' Mark Francois, the chairman of the Conservative European Research Group, added, 'This is still rule-taking from the EU, however you try and dress it up. Our car industry is already under massive pressure from Chinese dumping of electric vehicles on world markets, so something which stifles domestic innovation and adds to regulatory burdens hardly helps.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Find out when EV grant eligibility will be announced
Drivers will be told which EV models will be eligible for the government's new Electric Car Grant (ECG) in the next couple of weeks, This is Money can exclusively reveal. While the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes reportedly informed a press briefing on Wednesday that the Government will announce the EVs receiving subsidies on 11 August, the Department for Transport has told us that this is simply an 'administrative date', and is not when a list will be made public. Instead, a spokesperson on behalf of the department explained car buyers will be given a list before this date so they know which EVs to snap up at a discounted price. The DfT also told This is Money that they are processing applications as fast as manufacturers can file them. While the initial list of eligible models will be made public early next month, more will be announced shortly after to take into account later applications from brands. It means drivers could be forced to wait even longer to get a comprehensive quota of eligible EVs. A DfT spokesperson told This is Money: 'We expect dozens of models to be eligible for the electric car grant, which will provide a substantial boost for the industry and save drivers thousands of pounds. We want the discounts to become available to drivers as soon as possible, and we are engaging extensively with vehicle manufacturers and have published guidance to help them apply as easily as possible.' There are around 150 new EV models available to car buyers. However, only those priced at £37,000 or under will qualify for Labour's ECG. On top of the price tag criteria, electric models must meet stringent science-based emissions targets to prove that both the car and battery manufacturing is as sustainable as possible. The SMMT's Mike Hawes told press he expects a third of the EVs on the market to receive grants, based on the extensive qualifying criteria. Depending on how sustainable each model is will determine whether it qualifies for the full £3,750 grant or only for the lower £1,500 grant. There has been widespread criticism of the grants as the government chose not to release a list of eligible manufacturers and models from the offset. Instead, it has requested manufacturers apply to the scheme without knowing if their EVs will qualify. Some have claimed they are still wading through bureaucracy to find out. The SMMT briefing also revealed that the automotive industry was not consulted on the ECG ahead of its announcement - something that senior figures at Chinese car giant MG also relayed to This is Money on Tuesday. The trade body has also voiced its disappointment that denying some manufacturers and models grants will make 'the route to Zero Emission Vehicle mandate compliance worse' for those brands. The mandate demands mainstream makers meet increasing annual sales share thresholds for EVs - in 2026, this is a minimum of 28 per cent for cars and 16 per cent for vans. Hawes told journalists that, while 'any support is the right thing', the fact that the grant 'will help some but not all manufacturers' isn't a good thing. It's been reported that Chinese and South Korean manufacturers will not qualify for the grants, which would take out a significant chunk of the cheap end of the EV market, removing brands including MG, BYD and Kia. Preempting their exclusion, Chinese car makers have already announced their own 'electric car grant' discounts. MG is currently offering £1,500 off two EV models (the MG S5 EV and MG4 EV), GWM slashing £3,750 off its Ora 03 EV and Leapmotor trimming prices by £1,500 to £3,750 for its two UK-available EV models. BYD, however, is not offering its own EV grant and has dismissed the scheme entirely, dubbing it 'stupid' and 'too little, too late' from UK ministers. Executives at the world's largest EV maker also said that grants will act like a 'drug' that will hurt the market in the long run. They added that Europe can't fight Chinese EVs forever. He also pointed out that 'government has said it will look to support local manufacturing if possible', and added that he believes the ECG 'will be a success, as consumers respond to carrots'. The DfT has told This is Money that suggestions British car makers will be treated differently is untrue and that 'all products are assessed under the same framework'.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Car buyers to be told which EVs qualify for the new Electric Car Grant BEFORE 11 August
Drivers will be told which EV models will be eligible for the government's new Electric Car Grant (ECG) in the next couple of weeks, This is Money can exclusively reveal. While the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes reportedly informed a press briefing on Wednesday that the Government will announce the EVs receiving subsidies on 11 August, the Department for Transport has told us that this is simply an 'administrative date', and is not when a list will be made public. Instead, a spokesperson on behalf of the department explained car buyers will be given a list before this date so they know which EVs to snap up at a discounted price. The DfT also told This is Money that they are processing applications as fast as manufacturers can file them. While the initial list of eligible models will be made public early next month, more will be announced shortly after to take into account later applications from brands. It means drivers could be forced to wait even longer to get a comprehensive quota of eligible EVs. A DfT spokesperson told This is Money: 'We expect dozens of models to be eligible for the electric car grant, which will provide a substantial boost for the industry and save drivers thousands of pounds. 'We want the discounts to become available to drivers as soon as possible, and we are engaging extensively with vehicle manufacturers and have published guidance to help them apply as easily as possible.' There are around 150 new EV models available to car buyers. However, only those priced at £37,000 or under will qualify for Labour's ECG. On top of the price tag criteria, electric models must meet stringent science-based emissions targets to prove that both the car and battery manufacturing is as sustainable as possible. The SMMT's Mike Hawes told press he expects a third of the EVs on the market to receive grants, based on the extensive qualifying criteria. Depending on how sustainable each model is will determine whether it qualifies for the full £3,750 grant or only for the lower £1,500 grant. There has been widespread criticism of the grants as the government chose not to release a list of eligible manufacturers and models from the offset. Instead, it has requested manufacturers apply to the scheme without knowing if their EVs will qualify. Some have claimed they are still wading through bureaucracy to find out. The SMMT briefing also revealed that the automotive industry was not consulted on the ECG ahead of its announcement - something that senior figures at Chinese car giant MG also relayed to This is Money on Tuesday. There are around 150 new EV models available to car buyers, but only those priced at £37k or under (like the Renault 5 E-Tech pictured) will qualify for the government's ECG. They also have to meet stringent sustainability criteria, with the most sustainably produced models getting the full £3,750 and those made less sustainably getting £1,500 or nothing The trade body has also voiced its disappointment that denying some manufacturers and models grants will make 'the route to Zero Emission Vehicle mandate compliance worse' for those brands. The mandate demands mainstream makers meet increasing annual sales share thresholds for EVs - in 2026, this is a minimum of 28 per cent for cars and 16 per cent for vans. Hawes told journalists that, while 'any support is the right thing', the fact that the grant 'will help some but not all manufacturers' isn't a good thing. It's been reported that Chinese and South Korean manufacturers will not qualify for the grants, which would take out a significant chunk of the cheap end of the EV market, removing brands including MG, BYD and Kia. Preempting their exclusion, Chinese car makers have already announced their own 'electric car grant' discounts. MG is currently offering £1,500 off two EV models (the MG S5 EV and MG4 EV), GWM slashing £3,750 off its Ora 03 EV and Leapmotor trimming prices by £1,500 to £3,750 for its two UK-available EV models. BYD, however, is not offering its own EV grant and has dismissed the scheme entirely, dubbing it 'stupid' and 'too little, too late' from UK ministers. Executives at the world's largest EV maker also said that grants will act like a 'drug' that will hurt the market in the long run. They added that Europe can't fight Chinese EVs forever. However the SMMT doesn't believe that the ECG is intended to hinder a particular manufacturer or region. He said ministers have formulated criteria that only benefits 'products with broader sustainability goals, not just zero tailpipe emissions'. He also pointed out that 'government has said it will look to support local manufacturing if possible', and added that he believes the ECG 'will be a success, as consumers respond to carrots'. The DfT has told This is Money that suggestions British car makers will be treated differently is untrue and that 'all products are assessed under the same framework'.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Vehicle production sinks to lowest level since 1953 as UK car factories suffer 'depressing' first half of year
Outputs of new cars and vans in Britain in the first half of the year have plunged to lowest levels on record since 1953, excluding the industry-shutdown period during Covid. Production has fallen by 11.3 per cent year-on-year between the months of January and June because of multiple headwinds battering the automotive sector, figures shared by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show. Car outputs are down from 416,000 units in the first half of 2024 to 385,800 in Q1 this year - a decline of 7.3 per cent. The SMMT blamed the dip on uncertainty over export tariffs for the US - Britain's second most popular destination for UK-made motors shipped overseas - which saw some makers pause production during the opening six months of the year. Jaguar ceasing outputs any cars in November for a 12-month 'sunset period' before relaunching as an electric-only brand in 2026 have taken their toll, as has Mini's decision to shift some vehicle outputs to China and Nissan preparing for production of two new EV models, the first being the all-new third-generation Leaf. Commercial vehicle manufacturing has sunk comparatively lower by a massive 45 per cent. The trade body said this is mostly due to Stellantis' decision to shutter its Vauxhall Luton factory at the end of March. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, told a press briefing on Wednesday that the first half year figures are 'depressing' but hopes it marks 'the nadir' for the industry, while ministers have said the numbers are 'very concerning'. Attempting to remain buoyant, the SMMT said significant advances for the sector have been announced in recent weeks that could help stop the auto manufacturing rot. This includes the US-UK tariff deal, which was announced in early May but only came into effect on 30 June. As such, the half-year results posted on Thursday are not reflective of the potential confidence the agreement with the United States could garner. The data shows that UK car production is predominantly export-focused, with 77 per cent of output headed overseas. While the EU is the most common destination (54 per cent of exports), the US is a major market for British-made motors, representing almost 16 per cent of all shipped vehicles. Hawes also saluted the Government's reintroduction of subsidies towards the purchase of some new EVs, with Labour last week unveiled its Electric Car Grant for sub-£37,000 battery models. Mini recently shifted production of its new electric Cooper to China as part of an agreement with Great Wall Motor that has ultimately lowered its UK outputs The SMMT said this would be a 'boost' for the industry, though said the scheme - which includes thresholds around emissions produced during the manufacturing of cars ant their batteries to qualify for the grants - lacked clarity and had been announced without consultation with the industry. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds' verdict on today's figures were more downbeat. During an interview with BBC Breakfast, he said he is 'very concerned' about the industry, which he called the 'jewel in the crown' of British manufacturing. 'I'm very concerned about automotive, the pressures on the system which come from the US trade agenda, but also an incredible increase in capacity from China. 'It's why as a government we've adopted so many measures specifically around the automotive sector.' Closer inspection of the latest data shows that commercial vehicle outputs in the UK crashed last month, with just 2,689 vans built in factories last month. This is down a monumental 77 per cent on the 11,600 output in June 2024. However, passenger car production increased slightly during the previous month, up 6.6 per cent to just over 66,300 units. The trade body said this was partially a result of growth linked to the US-UK trade agreement. That said, the SMMT has remained modest about future outlooks. It is not expecting vehicle production to exceed one million units per year by the end of the decade. The last time this was achieved was in 2021. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Mr Hawes said that the government's own target of reaching 1.3 million vehicles per year by 2035 is 'quite some ambition from where we are', adding that 'we clearly require at least one, if not two, new entrants to come into UK production' to reach such an optimistic objective. While outputs are generally down, the SMMT's data does show that British manufacturing is at least moving with the times. Production of electrified vehicles - fully-electric, self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles - rose 1.8 per cent and now account for more than two in five motors made in Britain. This is a new record. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will be hoping the reintroduction of grants of up to £3,750 towards the purchase of some EVs priced at or below £37,000 will help to drive outputs. While the SMMT said it will provide a welcome boost to increase private EV sales, there remains widespread confusion about which vehicles will qualify for the discounts - and more importantly, those that won't. Manufacturers are required to apply to be included in the grant scheme on a first-come, first-served basis. It is expected that Chinese and Korean vehicles will not meet the criteria, but little else is clear regarding how the £650million funding will be shared. 'The difficulty is, we don't know. Nobody knows, but nobody, not even government, really knows yet, which models and which brands will qualify,' Mr Hawes said yesterday in comments quoted by the BBC. 'I think the industry is still trying to get clarity behind its application. 'Right now, your dealer cannot tell you whether the model you are considering is eligible.' He said clarity was needed imminently with September on the horizon and the ninth month of the year being one of the two biggest for new car registrations due to the arrival of a new age identifier on number plates. A number of Chinese brands - named MG, Leapmotor and Great Wall Motor Ora - have already introduced their own discounts in the last week to match those provided by the Government's grant scheme in a clear indication that they believe they will not qualify. A transport department spokesperson said it expected 'dozens of models to be eligible for the electric car grant, which will provide a substantial boost for the industry and save drivers thousands of pounds'. 'We want the discounts to become available to drivers as soon as possible, and we are engaging extensively with vehicle manufacturers and have published guidance to help them apply as easily as possible,' they added.
