In an attempt to both sell more cars and do its ‘bit’ for the environment, Ford has added its name to a growing list of carmakers offering attractive scrappage schemes. Like its rivals, the standard offer is worth £2,000 for those trading in cars over seven years old for a selection of new models. But what makes Ford’s offer unique (so far) is that their own scheme isn’t only limited to diesel cars.
Whereas the schemes of Mercedes and BMW apply only to diesel cars, Ford will also be accepting petrol cars.
Announcing the scheme, Ford also confirmed that every car received while the program is running will be immediately scrapped. Officials at the automaker stated with confidence that this will have an immediate and permanent positive impact on air pollution.
Environmental campaigners have applauded Ford’s move, but stated that there is still much to be done by the government to make any real difference.
The scrappage scheme was confirmed and outlined by chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain, Andy Barratt, who described the initiative as one step in a much larger “journey” to tackle air pollution in Great Britain.
“We have some pretty large incentives here, up to £7,000 if you have a commercial transit vehicle,” he said on the BBC’s Today programme.
“We’re the only scheme open to commercials. It is part of a journey,”
“Air quality is a much bigger debate and getting older vehicles off the road is part of that,”
“New technology, such as plug-in hybrids etc, are all part of that longer journey we need to work together.”
Unsurprisingly, he also stated outright that the initiative has nothing to do with selling more cars. Though given the fact that petrol cars will also be accepted for the scrappage scheme, critics are not 100% convinced that this is the case.
Still, it represents a great deal for those who may have been considering upgrading to a new Ford model in the near future. Those who qualify for the scheme will be given a discount worth £2,000 off a variety of new Ford models, with prices starting from £12,000. Which means that in the case of the latest Ford Fiesta, taking part in the scheme could mean driving the new car away for around £10,700.
Larger discounts will also be available for those looking to purchase commercial vehicles, with anything up to £7,000 available off the cost of a new Ford van.
Following in the footsteps of many nations worldwide, the British government recently announced a scheme whereby sales of new petrol and diesel cars are to be banned as of the year 2040. Contrary to widespread expectations, the government has not yet introduced any kind of nationwide scrappage scheme of its own. Nevertheless, the evidence suggests that such a scheme could possibly be introduced by the end of this year, or early 2018.
