Much has been made of the success of the Government’s car “scrappage” scheme, but this week’s ITV1 programme posed some interesting questions on the claims.

While UK car salesmen and delivery drivers are understandably rubbing their hands, it appears overseas manufacturers are the main beneficiaries. Volkswagen manufacturing plants in Germany are working seven days a week to churn out extra volume to meet the increased British demand and imports from the Far East are also buoyant.

But very few of the incremental sales are picked up by home manufacturers, such as Nissan in Sunderland and Vauxhall, Ellesmere Port.

Environmentally, the programme also demonstrated that many eminently roadworthy cars with little or no residual value, are being junked for the £2000 bonus.

And Yorkshire entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson’s situation made fascinating viewing. His Garforth plant turns out the sexy Ginetta sports cars and was, until recently, developing a prototype electrically-powered model. Ginetta applied for Government funding for the project and was turned down flat, so work has halted.

Lawrence was regularly driving the prototype home and re-charging it via wind power – about as green as motoring can get!

Tags: Environment, Product Development

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