For the last year, the £14,995 Dacia Spring held the title of Britain’s most affordable electric car. But that crown has now been swiped by a brand-new Chinese contender.
Say hello to Leapmotor, a car brand that’s just launched in the UK and is coming in hot. It’s slashed £1,500 off the price of its compact T03 city car, bringing it down to £14,495, officially making it the cheapest new EV on sale in Britain.
Not only that, but its bigger sibling, the C10 SUV, has been reduced by £3,750, with both offers available right now.
Why the sudden discounts?
This move is a reaction to the UK Government’s new Electric Car Grant, which was announced earlier this week. The idea behind the scheme is to encourage more people to ditch petrol and go electric, with discounts of up to £3,750 on new EVs.
But here’s the catch: the grant isn’t live yet. Car makers have to apply, and approvals might take weeks. Rather than wait, Leapmotor is jumping the gun with its own “Leap-Grant,” funding the savings themselves so buyers can get a deal straight away.
According to Leapmotor UK boss Damien Dally, they want to give customers “clarity, confidence and immediate savings.”
Who actually gets the Government’s discount?
That’s where things get tricky.
To qualify for the new Electric Car Grant, EVs must meet strict green manufacturing standards, basically proving they’re made in a sustainable way, based on carbon emissions from production.
Only brands that tick all the eco-boxes get the full £3,750. If they only partly meet the criteria, it drops to £1,500. And those that fall below the threshold? No grant at all.
And here’s the problem: Chinese-made cars might not qualify.
Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that any car built in a factory powered by coal (which many Chinese factories still are) could be ruled out.
Even though Leapmotor and others like BYD are hoping to get approval, there’s a chance their models might miss out altogether. The Dacia Spring might also fall into that grey area, since it's made in Wuhan, China.
So, what does this mean for you?
If you're in the market for a cheap EV right now, the Leapmotor T03 at £14,495 is your best bet, at least for now.
Even better: you can grab it on finance from £169 per month with 0% APR and just a £169 deposit. The larger C10 SUV is available from £319 per month on the same terms.
Both cars come with a four-year warranty, and the battery gets an eight-year guarantee.
Just keep in mind: the prices are only locked in for orders placed between 18 July and 30 September 2025. And if Leapmotor doesn’t qualify for the Government’s grant, they may need to extend the deal themselves to stay competitive.
