UK road tax changes for EVs effective April 2025, upcoming Kia educational events, MG’s launch of the electric Cyberster sports car and the EU’s new Speed Assistance regulations.
Road Tax Regulations
Millions of UK drivers are bracing for a significant change in road tax regulations, marking the end of the exemption for electric vehicles (EVs) and zero-emission cars.
Starting from 1st April 2025, EV vehicles will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). This was initially set at £10 for the first year, but for the second year onwards, EV owners will have to pay the standard £190 annual VED rate. EVs registered between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2025 will also need to pay the £190 standard rate.
The Expensive Car Supplement scheme previously excluded EVs, but that now attracts a £355 charge annually for EVs exceeding £40,000, which will be payable for five years following registration.
It is important to understand these upcoming changes for current and future EV owners who will need to factor these payments into their decision-making process.
Kia EV Education
Kia UK is launching the ‘Discover EV with Kia’ events at dealerships nationwide to educate and debunk myths about electric vehicles (EVs). The events will run from May to the end of June.
Visitors can book personalised sessions with EV experts to learn about EV benefits, range, and charging specifics. The educational nature of these events is aimed at helping people understand how EVs can fit into everyone’s lifestyles. An online digital brochure is available, covering essential EV topics and can be found here.
MGs New Roadster
MG’s eagerly awaited electric sports car, the Cyberster, is now available for orders in the UK. The car, marking MG’s return to sports car manufacturing after a decade, comes in two models. The Trophy starting at £54,995 and the GT at £59,995 differ in power. The Trophy features a single 335bhp motor and the GT uses dual motors producing 496bhp.
They both have a 77kWh battery getting up to 316 miles of range in the Trophy and up to 276 from the GT. Each version includes rapid charging, Brembo brakes, multimedia systems and luxury interiors.
Speed Assistance
From July 6, 2024, all new vehicles in the European Union and Northern Ireland must include Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology. This alerts drivers if they exceed speed limits and can automatically slow the car down.
The UK has opted out of mandating ISA, but it will be installed in vehicles here, giving drivers the option to activate or deactivate it.
The EU has introduced this requirement to reduce road collisions and fatalities. They estimate a potential 30% drop in collisions and a 20% reduction in deaths due to the automatic introduction of ISA.
