Citroën EVs Confirmed as First Models Eligible for New UK Electric Car Grant
Source: Stellantis Media
The UK Government has confirmed the first models eligible for its new Electric Car Grant scheme - and Citroën has secured the historic position as the first manufacturer with approved electric vehicles. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that buyers can now enjoy £1,500 discounts on four Citroën models – the ë-C3, ë-C4, ë-C5 Aircross and ë-Berlingo.
The First Electric Cars to Benefit from Government Support
Six Citroën models have been approved for the £1,500 grant: the ë-C3, ë-C3 Aircross, ë-C4, ë-C4 X, ë-C5 Aircross and the ë-Berlingo. Unlike previous government EV schemes, the discount is automatically applied at purchase and customers do not need to complete any paperwork.
The impact on pricing is significant. The ë-C3 now starts at £20,595 after the grant, making it one of the most competitive small electric cars in the UK market. The complete pricing breakdown after the grant includes:
Citroën ë-C3: £20,595
ë-C3 Aircross: £21,595
ë-C4: £26,150
ë-C4 X: £27,215
ë-Berlingo: £29,740
ë-C5 Aircross: £32,565
Why Citroën Qualified First
The actual discount depends on how each model performs against a set of rigorous environmental criteria. Citroën's electric vehicle range met the sustainability requirements for the £1,500 grant tier, though none qualified for the maximum £3,750 discount available to the most environmentally-friendly vehicles.
Greg Taylor, Managing Director of Citroën UK, commented: "We welcome the support of the Electric Car Grant and are delighted to be the first to have our electric range, including the New ë-C3, New ë-C4, New ë-C5 Aircross and ë-Berlingo, approved and eligible".
What This Means for Electric Car Buyers
The Electric Car Grant represents a significant step forward in making electric vehicles more accessible to UK drivers. With nearly 1.6 million battery electric vehicles on the road already, it's a real boost for the switch to electric.
The scheme addresses one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption. With many drivers citing upfront costs as a key barrier to buying an EV, the discounts will bring down the price of electric cars to more closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts.
For those considering a company electric car scheme, the timing couldn't be better. With the current 3% Benefit-in-Kind rate for electric vehicles and salary sacrifice schemes offering 20-50% savings, the government grant provides additional value on top of already substantial savings.
More Models Coming Soon
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed: "With the first four models approved today and more to come over the next few weeks, this summer we're making owning an electric car cheaper, easier and a reality for thousands more people across the UK".
More models will be announced in the coming days and weeks as carmakers engage with the Government over eligibility. The government has outlined strict criteria for manufacturers, including science-backed emissions targets and sustainability requirements.
Several manufacturers have already launched their own discount schemes while awaiting approval, including MG, Leapmotor, and other brands offering similar savings to match the expected government grant.
Maximising Your EV Savings
While the Electric Car Grant provides immediate savings, combining it with electric car salary sacrifice can deliver even greater value. Through The Electric Car Scheme, eligible employees can save 20-50% on qualifying Citroën models while benefiting from the automatic £1,500 government discount.
This combination of savings makes 2025 an ideal time to switch to electric, especially with the expanding charging infrastructure. With more than 82,000 public chargepoints now available, one chargepoint added every half an hour, and over 100,000 on the way in the coming years, the practical barriers to EV ownership continue to diminish.
Looking Ahead
The £650m 'Electric Car Grant' offers 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. With this funding potentially supporting around 173,000 electric cars, the scheme represents a significant commitment to accelerating UK electric vehicle adoption.
As more manufacturers receive approval and additional models become eligible, the choice of discounted electric vehicles will expand significantly. For businesses considering implementing an electric car scheme, the combination of government grants and salary sacrifice savings creates an unprecedented opportunity to support employees' transition to sustainable transport while reducing overall costs.
The confirmation of Citroën as the first approved manufacturer marks a significant milestone in the UK's journey towards widespread electric vehicle adoption, making clean transport more accessible and affordable than ever before.
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Last updated: 06/08/2025
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