While the subject of electric cars is always being covered in the news, it appears that as a county, the UK isn’t solely behind the concept of zero-fuel vehicles.
This is according to a new report conducted by European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (EAMA), with the organisation detailing how the UK electric car market is very much in trouble.
New stats show that in the first quarter of 2019, electric car purchasing activity grew by just 2.9 per cent. While there has been growth, when compared to the rest of Europe, it is minimal.
On average, European countries experienced a 40% growth, with France and Germany leading the way. When looking at the number of electric cars sold, France and Germany registered 10,569 and 15,944 respectively. The UK registered just 5,997 fully electric cars, displaying serious room for improvement.
But, what is the reason for this?
Well, according to many, we can put the blame on UK Government. Last year, they decided to cut subsidies for 100 per cent electric cars by £1,000 from £4,500 to £3,500. This inevitably made buying an electric car a less attractive prospect. This was in addition to scrapping the £2,500 grant for hybrid cars.
As well as a recent decline in electric car buying, the UK is also making less cars in general. From Honda closing its large plant in Swindon to Jaguar Land Rover planning to build the next Defender marque over in Slovakia, on the whole, the UK car industry is failing to gain momentum.
Let us know what you think about this subject. What can the UK do to regain its name for fine, modern car production? Share your thoughts and opinions below.