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The U.S. automaker is offering customers a 2,000 pound discount
off a range of many Ford models when they trade in their
vehicles registered until the end of 2009.
BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Vauxhall, the British version of the Opel
brand sold on the continent, have all launched similar schemes
in recent weeks to incentivize motorists to reduce emissions by
replacing their gas-guzzling models with greener cars.
The plans come after Britain once again delayed in July a
decision over whether to introduce a nationwide or targeted
vehicle scrappage scheme, with a consultation due to take place
later this year, despite worries over emissions levels.
"Ford shares society's concerns over air quality," its managing
director in Britain Andy Barratt said on Tuesday.
"Removing generations of the most polluting vehicles will have
the most immediate positive effect on air quality."
Ford, BMW, Vauxhall and Mercedes sell around 1 million cars in
Britain, more than a third of all new car registrations.
The scrappage schemes will help support sales at a time when
demand for new cars is beginning to slide substantially for the
first time in around six years.
In July, new car registrations fell for the fourth consecutive
month in a row, hit by a number of factors including uncertainty
over Brexit and lack of clarity over future government plans
around new levies on diesel models.
Britain's last government-backed scrappage scheme came in the
wake of the financial crisis and ran for nearly a year from
mid-2009, helping to support the car sector, which had been hit
by nose-diving sales.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas, editing by Louise Heavens)
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