Scrappage scheme increases Hyundai's potential orders 400%

In the first week following Alistair Darling's Budget announcement on car scrappage, manufacturer Hyundai has seen enquiries up 400 per cent.

Dealers are unable to take official orders for the scheme yet, but are noting 'expressions of interest' which will allow customers to reserve cars from existing stock.

Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai UK's managing director said: "We've just had a delivery of 800 i10s and i20s and we will get them out to dealers in time for mid-May when the scheme is expected to go live.

"We expect these, and our existing stocks, to sell quickly though and so are negotiating with the factory to secure more production and keep up with the expected demand. This is a great opportunity for car buyers to move up to a cleaner, safer and more reliable new car and we don't want to disappoint a single customer."

Hyundai dealers have been supplied with a provisional scrappage price list, to see what a motor from their dealerships would cost customers under the new scheme.

The i10 and i20 models are attracting the most attention from buyers, with an entry level i10, with air conditioning and the new 77bhp 1.2-litre engine, predicted to cost £4,995 with the scrappage allowance.