Major Chinese car brand launches £3,750 EV grant before Labour to give drivers 'immediate savings'
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|WATCH: Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood speaks to GB News about the new Electric Car Grant

Labour has yet to commit to a firm list of eligible vehicles as part of the Electric Car Grant
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An expanding Chinese car brand is introducing its own electric vehicle grant ahead of Labour's planned incentive scheme, with drivers seeing prices slashed to below £15,000.
Leapmotor UK said it would help drivers immediately save up to £3,750 by launching the LEAP-GRANT effective from today, July 18.
It comes days after Labour unveiled plans to introduce a new incentive scheme to help motorists slash the price of new electric vehicles if they cost less than £37,000.
The Electric Car Grant is the first Government-backed incentive scheme for new electric cars since the Plug-in Car Grant was scrapped in 2022.
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LEAPMOTOR
|The Leapmotor T03 and Leapmotor C10 will be part of the brand's grant scheme
The LEAP-GRANT will help drivers save instantly, including up to £3,750 off the Leapmotor C10 family car, which is available from £32,750.
The C10 is marketed at families who prefer to have a longer range of up to 263 miles, in addition to premium features like a 360-degree camera and HD displays.
The SUV has 218hp, acceleration of 0 to 62mph in 7.5 seconds and rapid charging speeds of 30 minutes from 30 to 80 per cent.
Drivers can also make use of a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) at £319 per month and a £319 deposit on zero per cent APR.
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The Leapmotor T03 five-door city car is available from £14,495 with a £1,500 grant, or Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) at £169 per month and a £169 deposit on zero per cent APR.
The T03 is designed for urban commuting with an estimated battery range of 165 miles, rapid DC charging and adaptive cruise control.
Damien Dally, managing director of Leapmotor UK, said the brand's main mission is to help drivers "make the leap" to electric cars easier for British drivers.
He added: "We've decided to act now because we want to give customers clarity, confidence, and immediate savings - and make the switch to electric a simple choice."
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All Leapmotor vehicles are backed by a comprehensive four-year warranty, with the batteries supported by a separate eight-year guarantee.
Leapmotor said it was motivated to introduce the launch scheme as the Government was still establishing which vehicles would be included in the scheme.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said Chinese car brands would not be able to apply for the grant scheme.
She cited environmental concerns around the sourcing of materials, although the Chinese giant BYD said it looks forward to applying for the Electric Car Grant on behalf of customers.
READ MORE: Chinese electric car brand offers drivers free bungee jump ahead of UK showroom launch
LEAPMOTOR
|The Leapmotor C10
Labour's Electric Car Grant will have two tiers, with the most sustainable cars receiving a £3,750 discount and a £1,500 discount for those that meet "some environmental criteria".
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the Government's move to support drivers looking to transition away from petrol and diesel cars and towards new electric vehicles.
She said: "This EV grant will not only allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money - it'll help our automotive sector seize one of the biggest opportunities of the 21st century.
"And with over 82,000 public chargepoints now available across the UK, we've built the infrastructure families need to make the switch with confidence."