Vehicles buyers stand to benefit as Abarth has announced a price reduction for its 600e Scorpionissima, bringing the cost below the UK’s £40,000 threshold for the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS). The decision aims to help buyers avoid additional tax charges of £410 per year for five years, saving them up to £1,640.
The move comes as the UK government prepares to introduce Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for electric vehicles (EVs) from April 2025, ending the exemption that has been in place since EV adoption began. Abarth’s price cut reflects growing concerns over rising taxation for electric vehicle owners and the financial barriers to EV adoption.
Abarth’s Strategic Price Cut for the 600e Scorpionissima
The Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) applies to all vehicles with a list price exceeding £40,000, requiring owners to pay an additional £410 annually from the second year of ownership for five years. Initially priced at £41,975, the Abarth 600e Scorpionissima would have been subject to this charge. However, Abarth has now reduced its price to £39,875, keeping it below the ECS threshold.
Abarth’s UK Managing Director, Giuseppe Cava, highlighted the reasoning behind the decision: “Recognising that our top-of-the-range Abarth 600e Scorpionissima would have attracted the Expensive Car Supplement coming in April, we’ve made the decision to reduce the price of the car and protect our customers from this tax rise.”
The standard Abarth 600e, which remains priced at £36,975, is also exempt from the ECS. Both versions of the electric hot hatch feature a 280 HP powertrain, 0-62 mph acceleration in 5.85 seconds, and a 207-mile battery range. With the first deliveries expected next month, Abarth aims to attract buyers before further tax changes take effect.
New Taxation Rules for Electric Vehicles in the UK
The UK government is phasing out tax incentives for electric vehicles, with VED applying to all EVs from April 2025. Previously exempt, EVs will be subject to a first-year VED rate of £10, followed by an annual charge of £195 from the second year onwards, in line with petrol and diesel vehicles.
The shift was announced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by then-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who justified the change by stating that the taxation system needed to be “fairer for all motorists.” The decision marks a departure from the UK’s previous approach, which sought to incentivise EV adoption through tax benefits.
Alongside these changes, the government is allocating £200 million to accelerate EV charging infrastructure, with an additional £120 million aimed at subsidising electric vans and wheelchair-accessible EVs. Connected Kerb, a UK-based charging provider, has also secured £65 million in funding to install 40,000 new on-street charging sockets.
Industry leaders argue that while taxation changes may be inevitable, maintaining incentives for EV adoption is essential. Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, described the funding boost as a significant step in ensuring the UK’s EV transition remains viable:
“This is a game-changing investment that will give individuals and businesses the confidence to make the switch to driving electric, dramatically reducing carbon emissions and air pollution.”
