+1

+2. I hope the recovery goes well

An interesting take on the data there mate. Sales for Merc appear to be holding very well. In 2021, 48,936 of their new sales were Mercedes-EQ battery electric passenger cars (BEV) (+154.8%). Including smart and Mercedes-Benz Vans, total BEV sales rose above 99,000 units. Since the EQS went on sale in August 2021, orders for the electric flagship reached 16,370. Seems pk to me.

Of total UK vehicle sales in 2021, 25% were BEV and 7.7% PHEV.

I was chatting to a client last week about his new Merc electric car.
He tells me that companies and self employed can claim 100% tax depreciation in the first year on electric cars whereas ordinary cars are now allowed 6%.
No contest there for the business user! I'm going to consider one myself now prices are similar and tax advantages massive.
Nick

The BIK on a 100% electric car as a company car is only 2% as well. I am seriously considering putting an EMini on the family fleet, purchased through my Ltd company & then let my daughter run it as a company car (she's on the payroll). On the face of it it, it looks like a far more financially efficient way of me providing her with a car than me using my taxed income to buy her one.

If you install a wall mounted charging box, the capital allowance on the car is upped to 130% rather than 100%

Agreed but that was not quite what I meant. I will try again in a less hurried manner.

Yes they needed some good Electric PR given the recent launch of the EQ-S seems to have sunk faster than the car in a river due to the weight of the batteries. Given the S has not really made a massive splash either they needed to do something.

I also agree re the Tax benefits to a business owner, this was what I was commenting on some time back re first year offset. I was not aware of the 130% wall box thing, that is good to know thank you.

Is it me or are we seeing the rush to electric result in a bit of a levelling of vendors from "premium" categories etc. Looking at the fresh and very smart Hyundai Ioniq 5 as well as the Honda e I suspect the grand marques like MB and BMW are going to find it more and more difficult as things change? Not an overnight death but more serious consideration.

"Is it me or are we seeing the rush to electric result in a bit of a levelling of vendors from "premium" categories etc. Looking at the fresh and very smart Hyundai Ioniq 5 as well as the Honda e I suspect the grand marques like MB and BMW are going to find it more and more difficult as things change? Not an overnight death but more serious consideration"

I'm sure you're right. Tech-led disruption has been a thing this century, and will continue at an accelerating pace. I can't see why disruption wouldn't apply to cars. Never mind already being a car company, why shouldn't Apple, Google or Sony disrupt the grand marques?

Will

Tesla is a disruptor.

The Model S series was not that disruptive in terms of the price/performance/market, but the Model 3 really is.
The Model 3 Performance is £61,000. The closest competitor, in terms of the total offering, is the BMW i4-50 is £70,000 and it has less range and no bespoke charging network.
There are rumours of a M3 Plaid, with 0-60 in 1.9 seconds and a WTLP range of 450 miles.

The "Grand Marques" need to be shaken up and disrupted. BMW are making an effort, but the rest??? VAG perhaps, Mercedes are nowhere.

VAG delivered 263,000 BEV in 2021, up from 134,000 in 2020.

Well it makes me quite cross in a way.
Here we have a government that will contribute to your car, contribute to a special wall charger then give the purchaser up to 130% tax allowance and then quite alot of free charging stations, especially at local council etc. workplaces.
At the same time we are all having to pay a large surcharge on our electricity and gas bills in order to fund these "green" measures, and as the energy costs rise the gov receipt by way of the VAT on energy bills will probably double.

It seems reasonable to me to make the statements that follow.
1.The subsidies and allowances are the most blatant type of bribe.
2. Only the relatively wealthy part of our society can avail themselves of this bribe (in the same way as solar panels were marketed).
3. The lower end of society is absolutely clearly being required to subsidise the higher. In the town where I live there are many people using universal credit; nurses included. They are looking at the coming energy prices with absolute panic.

Is this the sort of society I can be happy about? Not really.
Can I do anything about it? Not that I can see.

Honestly, it makes me feel guilty about the way I live.

Nick