Vauxhall pitches cheap-to-run message for electric Ampera

Vauxhall launches its Ampera range extender car next month through a specialist network of 24 dealers in metropolitan areas.

This, says product manager Simon Prior, will be the real test of the car, acclaimed earlier this month as European Car of the Year.

Some 700 people have already expressed a genuine interest in the £33,000 car, yet the sales target for the rest of this year is modest at around 2,500 to 3,000.

This is expected to rise to around 5,000 next year, with the launch having been boosted by an order of 20 from a leasing company. TV advertising starts on April 23.

Ampera launch manager Ian Allen says that compared to an Insignia 2.0-litre diesel, annual savings on running costs for a company car driver could be as high as £4,000 thanks to benefit-in-kind discount, first year capital allowance, no road tax and fuel savings of £1,100 a year based on driving 12,000 miles.

High mileage drivers – those driving 25,000-30,000 miles a year – will be better off driving an efficient diesel, he says. Target customers for the Ampera are those driving 12-15,000 miles a year.

The Ampera launches with two models, the Positiv at £32,250 and the Electron at £33,995, both pirces including the £5,000 government plug-in car grant.

In September sees a sub-£30,000 entry model will join the range, Vauxhall not yet saying what owners will get for the £29,995 price tag..

The message that Vauxhall wants to convey is that although the Ampera looks expensive to buy, it is very cheap to run, costing around £570 per year to charge overnight against petrol or diesel costs of £1,350.

According to Allen estimates from Glass’s and CAP, the used car pricing experts, suggest the Ampera will be worth around 40 per cent of its new value at £14,500 after three years/60,000 miles.

Story – Headline Auto

Words by: DrivenData Reporter