The price drop, which follows a similar price reduction for the Opel model in Germany, means that the model now bears a starting price of £28,750 OTR, inclusive of the Government's £5,000 grant.

‘Ampera's new price position brings the cost of electric motoring much nearer to that of a conventional vehicle,’ said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall's chairman and managing director. ‘It also reinforces the multi award-winning Ampera’s position as the only solution to electric vehicle ownership that can be the sole family car.’ The Ampera offers a real-world battery range of between 25-50 miles, after which a small range-extending generator, powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine, intervenes to provide up to an additional 300-plus mile range. At all times, the Ampera’s wheels are electrically driven, setting it apart from conventional hybrid vehicles.

An announcement is expected soon on a price reduction for the Chevrolet Volt version of the Ampera, with European chief Thomas Sedren having told news agency Headlineauto that the brand will follow Vauxhall/Opel’s suit but the actual amount of the reduction is yet to be decided