Why have SUV gross sales within the UK have soared by 23% to over a million a 12 months?
One motive is perhaps our nation’s low tax charges on massive, polluting automobiles. A report by Transport & Atmosphere (T&E) describes the UK as a ‘tax haven’ for greater, much less environmentally pleasant autos.
Whenever you examine the tax paid by UK patrons with comparative levies in neighbouring nations, you’ll be able to see what they imply. In case you purchase a BMW X5 (196gm/CO2 km) SUV in France, you’ll be lumped with an acquisition tax invoice of £51,415 – 32 occasions greater than the equal UK cost.
The identical automotive purchased within the Netherlands could be taxed the equal of £28,000 whereas within the UK the cost is barely £1,565.
If UK shopping for developments proceed as they’re, then SUV registrations in 2027 will account for 75% of recent registrations. Nevertheless, may the tide be about to show?
Will the transfer to electrical kill off the SUV?
In an interview with Auto Categorical final 12 months, Citroen CEO Vincent Cobée defined candidly that regardless of gross sales of SUVs accounting for 50 per cent of all new automotive registrations in Europe over the previous couple of years, their picture is struggling: “In case you dwell in an enormous metropolis, 5 years in the past for those who drop off your children with an enormous SUV you’re a person. Now, for those who do that, you’re a ‘terrorist’…”
Picture apart, it’s the discount in vary attributable to boxy styling and the extra weight of batteries that can see gross sales of the SUV dwindle in line with the Citroen boss: “On a battery EV, in case your aerodynamics are incorrect, the penalty by way of vary is huge. You may lose 50 kilometres between good and dangerous aero, and between an SUV and a sedan you’re speaking 60/70/80 kilometres very simply.”
In the meantime, Paris has voted to extend the price of on-street parking for SUV or 4×4 automobiles to €18 per hour.
The moral alternative
The ETA was established in 1990 as an moral supplier of inexperienced, dependable journey providers. Over 30 years on, we proceed to supply cycle insurance coverage , breakdown cowl and mobility scooter insurance coverage whereas placing concern for the atmosphere on the coronary heart of all we do.
The Good Purchasing Information judges us to be the UK’s most moral supplier.
