• 83% of dealers say the UK needs a scrappage scheme to support electric new car sales
• 60% believe the government should be encouraging electrification and 61% that electric cars need to be as affordable as possible
• Just 6% think the government shouldn’t interfere in the market, shows August’s Startline Used Car Tracker

September’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows 60% believe the government should encourage the adoption of electric cars and 61% that they need to be as affordable as possible.

Also, 26% think electric cars are priced out of reach for too many people and 21% think there are too many older, polluting cars on our roads.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “The electric new car market is already supported by the government with dual level subsidies, but dealers clearly feel that a scrappage scheme would have a wider impact.

“It’s easy to see the advantages. The current scheme reduces the price of a new electric car but it is effectively invisible – consumers don’t see the discount. A scrappage scheme has a much higher profile. It’s more dramatic.

“With a new government in place, this could be the moment for a change of approach.”

Dealer voices against the idea are few, with 10% believing it’s more environmentally friendly to keep existing cars on the road, 8% pointing out that electric cars have already become more affordable and 6% saying the government shouldn’t interfere in the market.

Paul said: “It appears the number of dealers against the idea of a scrappage scheme is relatively low. While dealers today view electric cars as increasingly commercially viable, most still want to see the market remain supported by the government.”      

The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 300 consumers and 60 dealers were questioned.