Overview

• Department for Transport added 17–19 Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall models on August 9 to its band-two list, making them eligible for £1,500 point-of-sale discounts.
• No vehicles have yet met the stricter environmental standards required for the £3,750 band-one grant, leaving the full £650 million fund’s highest tier unallocated.
• Manufacturers must apply for each model’s eligibility and the delayed publication of the list has prompted interim dealer discounts and buyer uncertainty.
• Conservative MPs have condemned taxpayer funding for foreign-built cars and leasing experts warn that confusing criteria are deterring drivers from switching to EVs.
• The grant scheme complements the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate requiring 28% of new car sales to be zero emission this year and supports the government’s 2030 petrol and diesel sales ban.