Meridian joins Budget debate

In the past week, industry heavyweights the SMMT and RMIF have urged the chancellor to avoid increasing cost pressures on the industry.

Mark Robinson, Meridian managing director, echoed those pleas, stating that the sector had become the government's “whipping boy”. “The motor industry is a massive employer in this country and a continual bombardment of new and increased taxes will have a significant effect. The chancellor needs to be fair not punitive,” Robinson said.

He added that should the government consider raising taxation on high-polluting models, it should also consider offering incentives to dealers and manufacturers selling greener vehicles. “He needs to be giving incentives to those manufacturers and dealers who make and sell models that are kinder to the environment,” Robinson said.