Volkswagen UK, along with sister brands Cupra and Skoda, has joined the growing number of carmakers launching EV discounts amid the wait for the Government’s own scheme.

All three are offering their £1,500 ‘Grant Guarantee’ for retail customers who order selected models before 31 August and take delivery with the new ‘75’ plate from 1 September 2025. The offer applies to certain VW ID.3 and ID.4 models, along with Škoda’s Elroq and Enyaq SUVs (excluding the Enyaq Coupé) and Cupra Born.

The offer ensures customers benefit from a lower price and are not left waiting for the Government to confirm eligible models for its recently announced Electric Car Grant.

Announced earlier this month, the Government’s ‘Electric Car Grant’ (ECG) commits £650m to the new market, offering discounts of either £3,750 or £1,500 off the cost of a new electric vehicle with an initial list price up to £37,000. However, the grant is only available for vehicles that have been approved as eligible and only two-thirds of EV line-ups with sub-£37,000 pricing are expected to qualify when the first announcements on eligible vehicles are made on 11 August.

The brands said they would honour the £1,500 grant on vehicles specified, even if the Government’s grant is not awarded. However, customers can’t receive both the ‘Grant Guarantee’ and the Government’s Electric Car Grant.

Rod McLeod, director of Volkswagen UK, said: “We welcomed the Government’s announcement of its Electric Car Grant and wanted to make sure customers could start benefiting from lower-cost electric motoring as quickly as possible.”

McLeod also said the carmaker has seen an uplift in enquiries since the Government’s grant was announced, although research by What Car has found many drivers who were about to buy an EV have put their plans on hold because they don’t know which electric cars will be eligible for the Government’s grant.

Volkswagen models available with its ‘Grant Guarantee’ include the ID.3 in Pure Essential and Pro Match 52kWh 170PS versions; Pro Essential, Pro and Pro Match 59kWh 204PS variants; and Pro S Essential, Pro S and Pro S Match 79kWh 204PS models. The ID.4 also gets the £1,500 discount for the Pure Match and Pure Essential 52kWh 170PS grades, plus the Pro Match, Pro Black Edition and Pro Essential 77kWh 286PS versions.

On Škoda’s side, the initiative covers 11 models across the Elroq and Enyaq line-ups. For the Elroq, these include the SE 50, SE L 60, SE L 85, Edition 60, Edition 85, SportLine 60 and SportLine 85 derivatives. On the Enyaq, the grant covers the SE L 60, Edition 60,  Edition 85 and SportLine 85 models.

Cupra customers can make use of the Grant Guarantee on the Born V1 and V2 with the 59 and 79kWh batteries and the Born V3 with the 59, 77 and 79kWh batteries.

Smart UK launches new ‘smart EV Car Grant’

Smart UK has also introduced its own ‘Smart EV Car Grant’, saving buyers a further £1,500 across its entire model range.

Applied on top of existing manufacturer offers, it means total savings of £3,500 and £2,500 are immediately available on the #1 and #3 respectively.

The programme aims to further extend Smart’s value for money while opening minds to the benefits of electric mobility

“We’re very proud of the fact that smart’s award-winning EV range unites the best of premium design and cutting-edge technology,“ said Jason Allbutt, CEO of Smart UK.

“In line with our commitment to opening minds toward electric mobility, our #1 and #3 already offer exceptional value for money. This initiative will provide customers in the market for a new car with immediate confidence in their access to smart’s most competitive prices, avoiding leaving buyers in limbo while the industry adapts to evolving external influences.”

The all-electric Smart #1 and #3 team up performance and practicality with WLTP ranges of up to 273 and 283 miles respectively. The models will be joined by Smart’s new #5 midsize SUV in Q4 of this year.