Several Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers operating in the UK have introduced their own subsidy programs, offering discounts of up to £3,750 per vehicle, as uncertainty surrounds the implementation and eligibility criteria of the country’s recently announced £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG).
The ECG, launched earlier this month, provides subsidies of up to £3,750 for new EVs priced at £37,000 or below. However, qualification depends on sustainability benchmarks that go beyond zero tailpipe emissions. The UK government’s criteria include vehicle assembly emissions and battery sourcing, which may disadvantage EVs built in countries with higher carbon-intensity electricity generation, such as China.
According to the UK government, “vehicles assembled in countries with higher carbon intensity in electricity generation (for example, more reliant on fossil fuels or coal) will receive a higher score,” referring to an environmental scoring system used to assess eligibility.
To address potential exclusions and avoid sales disruption, Chinese brands GWM, MG Motor UK, and Leapmotor have launched independent incentives to match or supplement the ECG.
GWM UK introduced a ‘Green Grant’ of £3,750 for its ORA 03 PURE, PRO, and GT models. The company said the incentive is effective immediately and available on orders placed before 30 September 2025, offering the discount upfront without the need to wait for ECG disbursement. “We’ve taken matters into our own hands and matched the £3,750 saving, available to everyone, right now, on our ORA 03 range,” said Toby Marshall, Managing Director at GWM UK.
With the grant, the ORA 03 PURE starts at £21,245 and offers a 48 kWh battery with an estimated WLTP range of up to 193 miles. The PRO and GT variants are priced at £25,245 and £29,245 respectively, with increased battery capacities and range.
MG Motor UK has launched a separate £1,500 incentive on its MG4 EV and MG5 EV models for private buyers. Like GWM’s offer, this subsidy is also available immediately and operates independently of the ECG.
Leapmotor became the first Chinese EV brand in the UK to offer a self-funded rebate earlier this month, introducing the ‘Leap Grant’ of £1,500 for the T03 and £3,750 for the C10 electric SUV. The T03 is priced from £15,995, while the C10 starts at £36,500.
Buyers in the UK can apply for the ECG from July 16, though government officials have stated that the grants will be paid in two stages—first in July, and again in October—leading some automakers to pursue interim strategies to maintain market momentum.
Source: gwmcars.co.uk, mg.co.uk
