Porsche warns UK customers of 10 per cent price rise after no-deal Brexit
German car firm wants ‘clarity on future relations between the UK and the EU’
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Your support makes all the difference.Porsche has warned UK car buyers they may have to pay up to 10 per cent extra after Brexit.
The German firm, which is owned by Volkswagen, told customers the duty could be applied on any vehicles imported after 29 March.
It described the move as “precautionary” and said it needed “comprehensive clarity on the shape of future relations between the UK and the EU very quickly”.
The 10 per cent tariff stated by Porsche reflects World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules on car imports, which would apply in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Porsche said in a statement: “As one potential outcome of the Brexit negotiations, there is a possibility that a duty of up to 10 per cent may be applied to cars imported into the UK by us after 29 March.
“In light of this, we have chosen to inform customers whose cars are likely to arrive after Brexit occurs to warn them that they may be affected by this tariff – allowing them to be fully informed at the point of sale and, if they wish, to adjust their order accordingly.
“This is a precautionary step in the interests of allowing our customers to plan ahead.”
However the charge will not apply to anyone who put down a deposit on a Porsche by 17 January.
It is not clear whether a similar increase could be applied to other brands owned by Volkswagen, including Audi, Bentley and Lambourghini.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has said that import tariffs alone could increase the price of cars imported to the UK from the Continent by an average of £1,500.
Last month the SMMT warned that a no-deal Brexit risks “destroying” Britain’s car industry and Nissan partly blamed “Brexit uncertainty” as it confirmed that it had abandoned plans to build its new X-Trail model in Sunderland.
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