Nissan UK introduces cheaper Ariya to qualify for government subsidy
The global market for electric cars is starting to resemble a high-stakes game of chicken, with automakers daring each other to see who can drop prices the lowest. Nissan, after watching from the sidelines, has now jumped into the fray and made the Ariya more affordable in the United Kingdom.
But this is more than just a simple discount - it's a calculated move designed to work with government incentives. In the UK, a government grant helps lower the cost of new electric cars, but only for vehicles priced below a certain threshold.
The original Nissan Ariya was priced just over that limit, making it eligible for only a partial grant. In response, Nissan introduced an entirely new entry-level model, the Ariya Shiro, specifically to slide under that price cap and unlock the full savings for buyers.
With the new government grant applied, the Ariya Shiro starts at €39,300. This represents a massive price reduction of over €7,000 compared to the previous base model, which started at €46,488. This new, cheaper version of the Ariya comes with a 63 kWh battery pack.
According to the WLTP testing cycle, this battery provides a range of up to 404 km. It's important to remember that WLTP figures are often more optimistic than the EPA estimates used in the United States.
Nissan also adjusted the price of the Ariya version with a larger, 87-kWh long-range battery. This model, which offers a more substantial WLTP-rated range of 529 km, now also qualifies for the grant thanks to its new starting price of €41,600.
Nissan dramatically lowered the price of its Ariya electric SUV in the United Kingdom by introducing a new, grant-eligible base model.
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