Unsurprisingly there is still frenzied interest in the announcement of a vehicle scrappage scheme by Alistair Darling as part of his 2009 Budget. The scheme, which will see the Government and vehicle manufacturers collectively offer a £2,000 discount against the purchase of a new vehicle when the owner scraps a car that is over 10 years old, has had its merits questioned by a number of industry analysts.
However, an announcement by Ford meant to sweeten the deal to its customers may only raise further doubts about the scheme’s environmental credibility.
The company plans to boost the potential of the scrappage scheme with the addition of supplementary discounts, which, when combined with the money from the scrappage offer, could represent savings in the region of £4,500.
Sound good? Well, there is a catch. This additional help is only available on Ford’s larger vehicles – not its most fuel efficient models.
The so-called Scrappage Plus discounts will be available over and above the Government and industry’s shared £2,000 subsidy. They start at an additional £1,250 for a Ford Fusion and extend to £3,000 for a Ford Galaxy.
According to Nigel Sharp, Ford of Britain managing director, the announcement will “help a sizeable group of motorists who otherwise could not afford it, to purchase a more stylish, safer and greener new Ford.”
However, isn’t one of the ideas behind the scheme to not just stimulate the auto industry but to encourage drivers to make greener choices? There may be some marginal benefit in replacing an old gas guzzler with a new, large car. However, shouldn’t drivers be encouraged to think green, fuel efficient and small in their choices?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Are Ford and the Government failing to offer real incentives to green car enthusiasts? Or does the vehicle scrappage scheme hit the mark regardless? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
