Ford has become the first car manufacturer to secure the full £3,750 electric car grant.

Two of its new electric vehicles — the Ford Puma Gen-E and the Ford E-Tourneo Courier — qualify for the highest level of Government support under the recently launched £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme.

Two Ford’s forward

The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that Ford’s latest models met the strict environmental and sustainability criteria required to unlock the top-tier grant, designed to make electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable and accelerate the UK’s transition to zero-emission transport.

It’s a move that comes after the initial list of 22 qualifying vehicles, announced last month, were awarded only the lower £1,500 grant, making Ford the first to benefit from the higher level of funding.

Four further vehicles — the Peugeot E-308, Peugeot E-408, DS 3, and DS No4 — have also qualified but remain in the lower funding band.

Electric boost 

Lisa Brankin, Ford UK chair and managing director, welcomed the decision, saying:

“We’re proud that Ford’s commitment to sustainability has been recognised with the full EV grant. With a £3,750 saving available on the Puma Gen-E, plus the convenience of the Ford Power Promise, we’re helping to make the switch to electric simpler, more affordable, and more rewarding.”

As part of its Power Promise, Ford is also offering customers additional perks: a free home wall charger worth £899, five years of free servicing and roadside assistance, and up to 10,000 miles of complimentary charging — incentives aimed at easing drivers’ transition to electric motoring.

Government’s criteria

The Electric Car Grant scheme, launched in July 2025, aims to make EV ownership more attainable for UK drivers amid growing concerns over affordability and infrastructure. To qualify:

  • Cars must have a recommended retail price (RRP) of £37,000 or less.

  • Vehicles in Band 1 — the “greenest” — receive £3,750.

  • Vehicles in Band 2 receive £1,500.

  • Cars must offer a minimum range of 100 miles, come with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty, and use batteries guaranteed for eight years or 100,000 miles.

  • Manufacturers must commit to a science-based target (SBT) for emissions and ensure their vehicles meet strict embodied carbon thresholds.

Transport minister Lilian Greenwood recently stressed that cars assembled in China are unlikely to qualify under the scheme due to sustainability and supply chain concerns.

This has prompted many Chinese manufacturers to introduce additional offers to buyers of the models as compensation.

Reactions and impact

Peugeot UK’s managing director Nicola Dobson called the funding “welcome support” to make EVs more accessible, while RAC head of policy Simon Williams praised the scheme’s focus on affordability:

“This represents a significant saving for drivers and should stimulate demand while encouraging other manufacturers to follow Ford’s lead. We’ve long called for a grant that targets the more affordable end of the EV market, so this is a positive step.”

However, some manufacturers that failed to meet the eligibility criteria are introducing their own incentives.

MG is offering a £1,500 discount on the MG4 EV for private buyers, while BYD is providing a five-year servicing package on selected models amid uncertainty over its future participation in the grant scheme.

With more vehicles expected to qualify in the coming weeks, the DfT hopes the initiative will accelerate EV adoption and help the UK meet its 2035 target for zero-emission vehicles.