The Council has partnered with Motorpoint to offer people working in the Clean Air Zone the chance to scrap their old car and receive £2,000 credit towards a compliant vehicle, or a mobility credit.
Mark Jones, Sales Manager at Motorpoint stands in the showroom in front of 3 cars.
Following a lengthy tender process, the dealership, which has branches in Aston and Oldbury, has been appointed to deliver the Clean Air Zone’s Scrappage and Mobility Scheme using £10 million Government funding.
Motorpoint is the UK’s largest independent car retailer selling nearly-new cars up to four years old and with less than 30,000 miles. Every vehicle comes with a manufacturer’s warranty and is backed by the Motorpoint Price Promise which means they will refund the difference if the same vehicle is found cheaper from a competitor within seven days of order.
The Clean Air Zone Scrappage and Travel Scheme enable people who work in the zone and who earn less than £30,000p.a. to scrap a vehicle that would be subject to the daily fee from 1 June 2021. In exchange, they will receive £2,000 credit towards a compliant vehicle from Motorpoint or £2,000 in a ‘mobility’ credit to use on public transport via Swift Card with Transport for West Midlands.
Stephen Arnold, Head of the Clean Air Zone, said: “We have had a high number of workers who have registered an interest the Scrappage and Mobility Scheme so we know today’s announcement will spark huge excitement amongst city center workers. Motorpoint has a huge fleet to choose from, all of which will meet Clean Air Zone emission standards.
“We are continuing to take expressions of interest in the scheme through the Brum Breathes website and we expect to be able to accept full applications shortly. In the meantime, we are encouraging city centre workers who may qualify for this scheme to also apply for a temporary exemption permit so that their existing vehicle will not be subject to the charge when the zone launches on 1 June this year.”
The Scrappage and Travel Scheme will be open to people who have been the registered keeper of a vehicle that does not meet the emission standards for the Clean Air Zone so would be subject to the daily fee, work for at least 18 hours a week at premises within the Clean Air Zone boundary and who earn less than £30,000 a year. They must have been the registered keeper of the vehicle since 10 September 2018.
Kevin Cartwright, General Manager of Motorpoint Birmingham and Oldbury, said: “We are proud to have been given the opportunity to support the Clean Air Zone’s Scrappage and Mobility Scheme and through it help play our part in reducing the level of nitrogen dioxide emissions in Birmingham.
“Motorpoint has thousands of low mileage, nearly new, Clean Air Zone compliant vehicles in stock to ensure there is something to suit all tastes and budgets, and all are available with our same day driveaway service, which means customers can choose, buy and drive away in just over an hour from either our Birmingham or Oldbury stores.”
Applications for the scheme are expected to open prior to the Clean Air Zone launching on 1 June 2021. Those who have registered an expression of interest through the Brum Breathes website will be first to be notified of the scheme launching.
The full eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for the scheme are available at www.brumbreathes.co.uk. Alternatively, visit the Motorpoint website at www.motorpoint.co.uk to view the fleet and finance options