BMW has announced its own diesel ‘scrappage scheme’ to incentivise the take-up of low CO2 models. Owners of EU4 or earlier oil-burning cars – not just BMWs – will be eligible for extra discounts ‘of up to €2000’ when trading up to a newer model. BMW UK has confirmed it will be running the scheme, with up to £1700 off.
BMW is at pains to point out it’s not technically a scrappage scheme, as the old diesels won’t necessarily be junked. But it’s akin to the Government’s 2009 trade-in scheme, designed to invigorate the new-car market during the global recession.
When does BMW’s trade-in scheme launch? Soon. ‘Certainly before the end of August 2017,’ pledges BMW. If you’re thinking of upgrading your car, now could be a good time. The deal is in addition to any government incentives promoting the take-up of clean-fuel cars, such as the plug-in car grant.
A BMW spokesman told CAR: ‘If you look around the world at countries like Norway where electrification has really taken off, the change has been driven by incentives. We have the widest range of plug-in cars on the market and this will help to draw in new customers to BMW.’
Munich is expecting to exceed 100,000 sales of electrified cars in 2017 for the first time.
