First Chinese manufacturers match new UK subsidy

The UK recently launched a £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG), providing subsidies of up to £3,750 for new EVs. However, it will take time for these grants to be paid out. And as some Chinese manufacturers may not qualify, or at least not for the full amount, companies like GWM, MG, and Leapmotor are taking matters into their own hands.

Just some background to start: to qualify for the ECG, electric cars in the UK must be priced at £37,000 or below and also meet sustainability criteria. That not only includes tailpipe emissions (which should be zero), but also emissions during vehicle assembly. That is why electric vehicles built in China may not be subsidised. After all, much of the electricity used there is generated by burning coal.

Specifically, the UK government states that “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.” And the so-called environmental score given to a vehicle will also take into account where the battery cells come from.

To not miss out or fall behind in terms of sales, carmakers such as GWM, MG, and Leapmotor have now introduced their own £3,750 EV subsidies.

Specifically, GWM UK introduced a £3,750 ‘Green Grant’ for its ORA 03 models, matching the government EV grant without waiting for approval. EV buyers can apply for the ECG since 16 July, but it will take time for the subsidies to be paid – and, as mentioned above, it is not clear if they will receive any money at all. GWM’s offer applies to PURE, PRO, and GT variants, bringing the entry-level model to £21,245 OTR with immediate availability and 0% APR finance options.

“We don’t believe our customers should have to wait for the government to decide which vehicles qualify for the EV grant. So, 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.

Terms state the grant is available on new ORA 03 models ordered and registered by 30 September 2025 at participating retailers, with offers subject to status and availability.

With the grant applied, the ORA 03 PURE is priced from £21,245, featuring a 48 kWh battery for up to 193 miles WLTP range. The ORA 03 PRO starts from £25,245, offering a 63 kWh battery and up to 260 miles range, while the GT variant is priced from £29,245. According to GWM, the £3,750 saving can also be used as a deposit contribution.

MG Motor UK also introduced its own EV subsidies, even though it does not reach quite as deep into its pockets as GWM. Instead of £3,750, it offers a £1,500 grant for private buyers of the MG4 EV and MG5 EV.

Here, too, the grant is available immediately.

Just last week, Leapmotor was the first Chinese EV maker to announce subsidies for its EV lineup in the UK. It offers buyers of the T03 and C10 electric SUVs savings of up to £3,750. The T03 is available from £15,995, while the C10 starts from £36,500. The Leap Grant, as Leaptmotor calls its rebate, covers £1,500 for the T03 and £3,750 for the C10.

gwmcars.co.uk, mg.co.uk