- Fiat introduces £3,000 E-Grant for Fiat 500e and 500e Convertible in the UK, aiming to boost sales and affordability.
- Concerns arise as UK EV adoption declines by 65%, while 21 European countries offer incentives.
- Fiat calls for more government incentives and highlights the need to make EVs affordable to accelerate the transition to cleaner transportation.
Fiat calls for UK government incentives to curtail the country’s waning EV adoption
Fiat has introduced the £3,000 Fiat E-Grant for buyers of their Fiat 500e and 500e Convertible models in the UK. They are concerned about the slowing growth of UK electric vehicle (EV) sales. In an open letter to the UK Government, Fiat urges more incentives for EV adoption.
Recent data shows a decline in electric vehicle demand, with a 65% drop year-on-year. While the Plug-in Car Grant ended, 21 European countries still offer incentives for electric car uptake, with Germany and Spain providing up to €9,000.
“There’s no doubt the government’s Plug-in Car Grant successfully kickstarted the UK’s electric car revolution – it supported the sale of nearly half a million electric cars. We also appreciate it refocusing funding towards one of the main barriers to the electric vehicle transition, public charging.
However, with the cost-of-living crisis and rising cost of electric vehicles, coupled with our net zero climate targets, we believe more needs to be done to incentivise individuals to be able to afford to make the switch.”
Damien Dally, Managing Director, FIAT UK
Fiat has launched a £3,000 Fiat E-Grant for the 500e and 500e Convertible models. It’s double the previous grant amount and aims to make these award-winning vehicles more accessible.
Fiat’s call for more incentives aligns with pressures faced by the government from the automobile industry. Stellantis, Fiat’s parent company, warns of post-Brexit trading risks. Brussels urges the UK to join a pan-European agreement on goods trade to protect the car industry.
With declining sales and demand, the government must make EVs affordable and appealing. This will accelerate the transition to cleaner transportation. Fiat’s E-Grant is a substantial step, but if the UK is to accelerate its transition and hit its ambitious green targets, a model more akin to Norway’s public EV grants is essential. Will the UK government step up to the challenge and ensure the country is primed for its green transition?
