GEM Cars now in the UK - price alert!
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:34 am
The golf-buggy derived GEM vehicles are back on sale in the UK, imported into the country by a company called ITF, based in Dorking.
You can find out more at www.gemcars.co.uk . The website claims the GEM cars are the best selling electric cars in the world, with sales of 40,000 vehicles over the past few years.
I can see why: in the US, they sell successfully as park estate vehicles, luxury golf carts and the alike. As road going vehicles, however, they're fairly basic.
All of that is understandable though when you see the prices in the US. The cars start from $6795 - which is £3450 based on the current conversion rates. The UK prices, however, are a bit different:
GEM E2 US price - $6795 (£3450)
GEM E2 UK price - £8250 + £395 delivery +VAT = £10,157.88
GEM E4 US price - $9695 (£4925)
GEM E4 UK price - £10,450 + £395 delivery +VAT = £12742.88
In other words, the UK price is TWO AND A HALF TIMES MORE than their US price. That is just silly - anyone can see these cars cannot hope to compete at this price point.
You can find out more at www.gemcars.co.uk . The website claims the GEM cars are the best selling electric cars in the world, with sales of 40,000 vehicles over the past few years.
I can see why: in the US, they sell successfully as park estate vehicles, luxury golf carts and the alike. As road going vehicles, however, they're fairly basic.
All of that is understandable though when you see the prices in the US. The cars start from $6795 - which is £3450 based on the current conversion rates. The UK prices, however, are a bit different:
GEM E2 US price - $6795 (£3450)
GEM E2 UK price - £8250 + £395 delivery +VAT = £10,157.88
GEM E4 US price - $9695 (£4925)
GEM E4 UK price - £10,450 + £395 delivery +VAT = £12742.88
In other words, the UK price is TWO AND A HALF TIMES MORE than their US price. That is just silly - anyone can see these cars cannot hope to compete at this price point.