GWM UK has launched its own electric vehicle (EV) discount of £3,750 to get ahead of its models potentially not being able to access the Government’s Electric Car Grant.
The initiative follows the recent announcement that the UK Government’s grant will focus on a specific set of vehicles, leaving some customers confused and waiting to see if models like Ora 03 will qualify.
Rather than waiting for approval, GWM UK said it is taking the uncertainty away and is offering the £3,750 saving to customers immediately, matching the Government grant.
The discount is available across the Ora 03 range, including Pure, Pro and GT trim levels, taking the starting price down to £21,245.
The £3,750 saving can also be used towards a personal contract purchase (PCP) deposit and GWM UK is currently offering 0% APR PCP finance.
Toby Marshall, GWM UK managing director, said: “We don’t believe our customers should have to wait for the Government to decide which vehicles qualify for the EV grant.
“So, we’ve taken matters into our own hands and matched the £3,750 saving, available to everyone, right now, on our Ora 03 range.
“With immediate availability, competitive finance and exceptional value, there has never been a better time to go electric with GWM Ora.”
Chinese car maker Leapmotor announced last week it would bypass the UK government’s new EV grant scheme by launching its own self-funded incentive.
The Government has suggested that Chinese-made EVs will not qualify for its new electric car grant based on the environmental standards of production facilities.
To qualify for the £650 million scheme, electric cars must have a recommended retail price (RRP) of £37,000 or less, with two levels of grant available depending on the carmaker’s sustainability standards.
The ‘greenest’ vehicles in band one will receive up to £3,750, with band two vehicles receiving up to £1,500.
The electric car grant (ECG) requires manufacturers to have committed to a verified science-based target (SBT) and have embodied carbon scores below a certain threshold.
Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme last week, transport minister Lilian Greenwood said she did not expect any cars that are assembled in China to be eligible for the grant.
“The grant is restricted to those manufacturers that reach minimum environmental standards,” she added.
“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.”