Pod and Close Brothers Motor Finance announce EV partnership

Pod and Close Brothers Motor Finance (CBMF) have announced a new multi-year partnership aimed at helping dealers and consumers transition to electric vehicles through expanded access to EV charging solutions.

The partnership will provide CBMF’s network of more than 5,000 dealer partners with access to Pod’s EV charging products and services across both customer homes and dealership forecourts.

As EV adoption continues to grow across the UK, the agreement is designed to help dealerships strengthen their charging infrastructure while making EV ownership simpler and more affordable for customers.

Through the partnership, customers purchasing an EV from a CBMF dealer will be able to access a 10% discount on a home charger at the point of sale. Dealers will also be able to offer Pod’s home charging subscription service, Pod Drive, with the standard upfront £99 fee waived.

The initiative complements CBMF’s electric car PCP offering and aims to reduce some of the cost and complexity associated with switching to electric vehicles.

Customers will receive the Pod Point Solo 3S charger alongside a Which?-endorsed installation service and 24/7 customer support. Drivers will also have access to Pod Rewards, the company’s smart charging programme, which allows customers to earn cashback for charging at off-peak times.

Alongside residential charging, Pod will also offer commercial charger installations for participating dealership sites, supporting charging for customers, staff, visitors and demonstrator vehicles.

The company said dealerships will also benefit from free site assessments, staff training programmes, webinars and EV masterclasses aimed at improving confidence around EV charging conversations with customers.

John Cassidy, Managing Director at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “As an influx of new models enter the market and also filter down to the used space, the EV transition across the UK is now firmly underway.

“As a result, many dealers can simply no longer afford to ignore this, and having the infrastructure to support this is going to be vital to shaping forecourts to meet demand over the coming years

“This collaboration highlights our long-term commitment to our partners and our continued investment in our market, enabling us to lend throughout the cycle. We’re proud to partner with Pod to be able to provide our dealer partners with excellent products, knowledge and expertise to enable them to manage this shift and ultimately protect their bottom lines.”

Val Geary, VP for Partnerships at Pod, added: “Dealers have a huge role to play in helping more drivers go electric, and they need partners who make the switch easier – for themselves and their customers.

“Working with Close Brothers Motor Finance means we can offer market-leading EV charging at many more customers’ homes and dealer forecourts, paired with CBMF’s finance expertise. It’s a practical step towards making electric living mainstream for drivers across the UK.”