Chinese language automotive maker Leapmotor is bypassing the UK authorities’s new EV grant scheme by launching its personal self-funded incentive, providing British consumers as much as £3,750 off its electrical fashions – as uncertainty grows over whether or not Chinese language-made automobiles will qualify for state help.
The brand new ‘Leap-Grant’ initiative supplies rapid reductions throughout the model’s UK lineup with the Leapmotor C10 household SUV receiving the complete £3,750 grant, bringing its on-the-road (OTR) worth right down to £32,750.
The compact T03 metropolis automotive is now priced at £14,495 OTR following a £1,500 low cost – making it what Leapmotor claims to be probably the most reasonably priced five-door EV at the moment accessible within the UK. Each fashions additionally include 0% APR finance.
Leapmotor stated customers are nonetheless ready to study which automobiles will qualify underneath the Electrical Automobile Grant, how a lot monetary help might be accessible, and when the grants will take impact. This has left many potential automotive consumers in a state of limbo – not sure of when or find out how to benefit from the promised incentives.
“We wish to give prospects readability, confidence, and rapid financial savings – and make the change to electrical a easy selection,” stated Damien Dally, managing director of Leapmotor UK. “The market can’t afford to attend round in uncertainty.”
Leapmotor’s announcement comes simply days after the UK Authorities unveiled a brand new £650 million EV grant scheme, which affords as much as £3,750 off battery electrical automobiles priced underneath £37,000. Nevertheless, the scheme ties eligibility to strict sustainability requirements, together with verified science-based targets (SBTs) and low embodied carbon scores within the manufacturing course of.
Talking on BBC Radio 4’s Immediately programme on Wednesday (July 16), transport minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that automobiles made in factories powered by coal – attribute of many Chinese language operations – are unlikely to qualify.
“The grant is restricted to these producers that meet minimal environmental requirements,” she stated. “Frankly, for those who’re powering your manufacturing unit with coal, you received’t qualify for this scheme.”
AM sister title Fleet Information reviews that the federal government’s stance has triggered concern amongst Chinese language manufacturers, with the Chinese language embassy warning that such exclusions threat violating World Commerce Organisation (WTO) guidelines.
“The UK ought to create a good, non-discriminatory atmosphere for funding,” a spokesperson informed Fleet Information. “China is carefully following the state of affairs and can firmly shield the legit rights and pursuits of its corporations.”
The potential exclusion is especially important given the fast rise of Chinese language EV manufacturers within the UK market. BYD, MG, Jaecoo and Omoda are making main inroads within the fleet sector, with BYD’s fleet gross sales alone up 643% within the first half of 2025. Collectively, rising Chinese language manufacturers now maintain practically 8% of the UK’s true fleet market.
