- Drivers will be able to get £3,750 off the Nissan LEAF set to
launch early next year as the Government's Electric Car Grant
expands, making it the fourth manufacturer to offer the full
discount
- The new LEAF will be built at Nissan's Sunderland plant,
helping to power up jobs and growth in the North East
- Over 35,000 drivers have already used the grant to make the
switch since it launched in July
- Comes as Electric Vehicle ownership hits record levels
accounting for 1 in 4 new car sales
Drivers are set to save £3,750 off the new Nissan LEAF as the
Government's Electric Car Grant (ECG) list expands once again
today (Friday 21 November), putting thousands of pounds back
in families' pockets when they decide to make the switch.
Set to be built at Nissan's Sunderland plant by its 6,000 strong
workforce from next month, the LEAF qualifying for the grant will
help boost sales for the manufacturer, supporting jobs and growth
in the region and cementing the North East as one of the UK's
manufacturing strongholds.
The move brings the total number of eligible models under the ECG
to 39, spanning the most popular automotive brands including
Ford, Citroën, Vauxhall and now Nissan and offering
discounts of up to £3,750, available through
dealerships.
Transport Secretary, said:
“Nissan helped pioneer early EV ownership through the original
Leaf, so it is great to see them join our drive to make going
electric cheaper and more accessible for families.
“Alongside saving drivers thousands this news is also a big boost
for manufacturing in the North East - supporting thousands of
jobs in the region whilst backing the industry to grow and
deliver our Plan for Change.”
, Nissan GB Managing Director,
said:
"We're absolutely delighted to be able to confirm LEAF's pricing
at £32,249 including the electric car grant, which will deliver
an accessible route to EV ownership for our customers.
“This is fantastic news for people looking to switch to fully
electric motoring as they now have the reassurance that comes
from a car with 386-miles of range, all the tech they could want
and the real-world benefits that come from Nissan's 15 years of
EV expertise. Best of all, it's proudly built right here in the
UK!”
The ECG was launched earlier this year to put money back in
people's pockets and make it cheaper and easier to own an
electric vehicle. The scheme is also backing the UK's
automotive industry, a key sector identified in the UK's
modern Industrial Strategy, which supports 133,000 jobs in
the UK, and a further 320,000 jobs in the wider economy.
Applications are assessed against the scheme's sustainability
standards, ensuring only the cleanest cars are eligible.
The announcement comes as demand for EVs continues to surge,
with sales accounting for a quarter of UK car purchases in
October and enquiries for some eligible models up by 118%
following their qualification for the scheme.*
The Government is also powering up charging infrastructure to
support the EV revolution with 100,000 chargepoints being rolled
out across the UK, backed by the £381 million Local Electric
Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund. This drive is rapidly
expanding the network to ensure drivers have reliable access to
charging, with a new charger added to the network every 33
minutes.
This is on top of the almost 87,000 chargers already live across
the country, with the fastest growth happening outside London in
places like Yorkshire, Wales, the West Midlands and the East of
England, and rural chargepoints in England up 26% overall on the
year.
The Government is also cutting red
tape and investing £25m to make it easier for homeowners
without driveways, renters, and those living in flats to install
home chargers, giving them access to cheaper electricity rates
meaning they could charge up for as little as 2p per mile.
Notes to editors
