Automotive Industry Digest

Latest Fleet News For The Automotive Industry

Fleet file

Industry calls for certainty with plug-in grants

Images are for editorial use only and not for promotional purposes. Agencies who supply images to Newspress must ensure they have the appropriate permissions.

The BVRLA has joined forces with over twenty automotive, environmental, EV charging and fleet organisations to call upon the next government to pledge their continued support for the Plug-in Car and Van Grants.

In a joint letter sent to the main party leaders, the message from industry is clear. If the next government is serious about meeting its zero-emission road transport ambitions, it is vital that they provide future certainty around the status and lifespan of the vital Plug-In Car and Van Grants. Despite promises from all the main political parties to increase support for electric vehicles, none of their manifestos have explicitly pledged to continue the grant beyond 2020.

Business fleets are buying over 50% of all new vehicles sold each year, including the majority of electric vehicles. With the right support from government this figure will increase.

Any change in the grant must be gradual and clearly signposted, giving customers time to act.

BVRLA Chief Executive, Gerry Keaney said: “Waiting times for some of the most popular battery electric vehicles are already at nine or twelve months, and fleets need to know that the grant will still apply when the vehicle is delivered. Fleets are in a unique position to accelerate the shift to more sustainable road transport, but we need the right incentives in place and the Plug-In Grant is crucial.”

AA president, Edmund V King OBE said: “The next government must take the lead on averting the climate crisis and giving fleets tangible and long-term incentives to switch to EVs are essential catalysts for change. The cleaner company or fleet car of today soon becomes the greener used car of tomorrow.”

Automotive Industry Digest

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial