Government “punishing” EV buyers – JLR

As you might expect of a company that’s pledged to go fully EV by 2025, Jaguar is more than a little alarmed by the government’s go-slow approach to electrification in Australia.

JLR Managing Director Mark Cameron seems genuinely mystified that not only is Australia not encouraging a more rapid take-up of EVs via incentives, it is, in the case of some state governments, looking to “punish” EV buyers instead. 

“At a time when we should be incentivising people to go into EVs it seems a strange step for the Victorian Government to introduce a special tax aimed at disincentivising people from buying them,” he says.

“The Federal Government isn’t going far enough with incentives, while buyers are being punished by some States.”

Cameron says it is vital to “jump start” consumer interest by offering some kind of carrot to go with the stick that is looming climate change. 

“There really should be incentives for EVs – whether it’s tax relief or even just free parking in cities,” he says.

“I’m from Europe and you have to look at those markets, and markets around the world, to see best policy and I’m of the view that they have a better approach, not only to investment in infrastructure but to encouraging buyers to make the switch,” he says.

“I know there are fears that once you get on the drug of incentives, how do you wean yourself off them, but  you can see that it is possible from what’s been done in Europe.

“The fact is that EV tech is expensive and if we can get to the point where there are economies of scale to bring price down that will make a big different. 

“I think Government really does need to play a role in creating a stimulus for demand.”