Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Society of Motor Manufacturers’ statement that the Government's decision to abolish the Plug-in Car Grant three weeks early at the end of 2018 has caused a reduction in sales of low-emission vehicles.

The Government has not abolished the Plug-in car Grant (PiCG). The plug-in car grant continues to provide £3,500 to support the cleanest vehicles and will continue to exist in some form until at least 2020.

The PiCG was introduced in 2011 to support the early market for ultra-low emission vehicles. Through the PiCG we have supported the purchase of over 200,000 plug-in vehicles, including around 100,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles. Last year, in light of increased demand and decreasing prices, we reviewed the PiCG to focus on the cleanest vehicles. While sales of plug-in hybrids have decreased since the grant was reviewed, sales of zero emission cars are up by more than 60% in 2019, than for the same period in 2018. Overall, sales of all alternatively-fuelled cars have increased this year, compared to the same period last year.

The Government’s ambition is for the UK to be a world leader in zero emission vehicles. We are investing nearly £1.5bn‎ between April 2015 and March 2021. The Government’s Road to Zero strategy was published last year and details how this funding is providing grants for plug-in cars, vans, lorries, buses, taxis and motorcycles, as well as schemes to support charge point infrastructure at homes, workplaces and on residential streets.