The editors of many of Britain’s biggest car magazines have buried their competitive differences to urge the government to take action to boost their industry.
The rival titles have launched a joint campaign urging the government to adopt a “scrappage scheme”.
Under the scheme, the government would agree to pay owners of cars more than nine years old £2,000 towards the costs of buying a new car if they agree to scrap their old vehicle.
According to Haymarket title What Car, “it is a fact that older cars are more polluting, more expensive to maintain and less safe than newer, cleaner, more reliable vehicles”.
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“Under the Scrappage Incentive Scheme, owners of older cars will be given a huge incentive and opportunity to change to a safer, cleaner, more economical, hi-tech vehicle.
“Scrappage Incentive Schemes are already in place in many countries in Europe and have seen consumer confidence begin to return to the car buying market. In Germany in February, a Scrappage Incentive Scheme delivered an increase in new car sales of 21 per cent. Sales figures have been equally impressive in France.”
Those signing up to the campaign include the following editors: Steve Fowler, What Car?; Chas Hallett, Autocar; Chris Rosamond, PistonHeads; Alex Jenner-Fust, Evecars.com; David Johns, Auto Express; Harry Metcalfe, evo and Mat Watson, iMotorcars.
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