Asian carmakers bring scrappage schemes to the UK

01 September 2017

Japanese manufacturer Toyota and Korean company Hyundai are the latest to announce a scrappage trade in scheme in the UK, following other carmakers in offering discounts for older models.

Following the diesel forum in Germany on 2 August, and the UK’s announcement that it is to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, car companies have been offering deals to drivers who trade in their older, more polluting vehicles to be scrapped, in order to help reduce their burden on high air pollution levels. While in Germany, this is in response to the diesel crisis, in the UK, car manufacturers have come under scrutiny in government clean air plans, while sales in the country are also falling, following years of record growth.

Toyota’s scheme runs from 1 September to 31 December 2017, and includes the company’s full range of petrol-electric hybrid vehicles as part of the deal. Like the scheme offered by Ford, the company will take in any vehicle, either petrol or diesel, that is over seven years old and has been owned by customers for at least six months. Drivers can receive up to £4,000 (€4,340) depending on which model they choose to trade in against.

Paul Van der Burgh, Toyota GB president and managing director, comments: ′Our scrappage scheme is a win-win solution. Motorists can dispose of their older vehicles and have access to our cleaner, more efficient model range. Our world-leading petrol-electric hybrids will be an ideal choice, helping make a genuine contribution to protecting air quality – a crucial concern for today’s customers. What’s more, everyone who takes up our scrappage scheme can be assured their vehicle will be disposed of in an environmentally responsible fashion that maximises recycling opportunities.’

Hyundai’s scrappage scheme offer also includes petrol and diesel vehicles; however, the manufacturer will only scrap Euro 1-3 models, with Euro 4 vehicles being accepted as a straight trade in.

The Korean company will offer up to £5,000 (€5,426) depending on model, with a range of petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles available until the end of the year.

Tony Whitehorn, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, said: ′Hyundai is committed to improving efficiency and lowering emissions. We currently offer the broadest range of powertrains currently on sale in the UK. We’ve already launched the new IONIQ – the world’s first car to offer Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid and full Electric powertrains all in one bodystyle – and we were the first manufacturer to bring a production [hydrogen] fuel cell vehicle to the market in 2014. Moving on, we will have introduced 14 alternative-fuel models globally by 2020. That line-up will include five hybrid vehicles, four plug-in hybrids, four electric vehicles and one all-new Fuel Cell car.

′However, right here, right now, there are thousands of older cars on our roads that could be replaced with cleaner – not to mention better equipped and safer – alternatives. By giving owners of older cars a substantial financial incentive to scrap or trade in, regardless of make or model, this new scheme will do just that.’

Photography courtesy of Toyota