HALFORDS AND JODIE KIDD CHALLENGE CAR SEAT VAT

Retailer Halfords joins forces with model and motoring mum

• Halfords campaigns to end unfair 5% tax on child car seats

• Halfords launches VAT free prices for 11 weeks

• Jodie Kidd invites safety conscious drivers to sign petition to end 5% VAT

HALFORDS, the UK’s leading retailer of automotive, leisure and cycling products, announces a campaign to tackle the EU’s unfair tax on child car seats by selling its entire range of child car seats at zero-rate VAT prices from today.

In the retailer’s first partnership with model and motoring mum, Jodie Kidd, Halfords is gathering signatures for a petition calling for the EU to abolish the 5% VAT currently added to every child car seat sold in the UK.

Child car seat VAT costs parents in the UK more than £31 million* a year - not taking into account grandparents, aunts and uncles who may be purchasing additional car seats - while children’s clothing enjoys a zero rate.

Halfords motoring ambassador, Jodie Kidd said, “As a keen driver and a mum, I think it’s unfair that parents and grandparents are being penalised for trying to give their children the best start in life.

“Car safety is something I am really passionate about and ending the VAT on children’s car seats will save money for millions of families.”

Jodie will work with Halfords on a variety of Autumn Winter, Christmas and digital campaigns over the next six months that will see her supporting safety campaigns, sharing motoring advice and promoting seasonal product messages.

Emma Fox, Commercial Director for Halfords added, “By offering our range of car seats at zero rate VAT prices and launching this petition in partnership with Jodie, we’re standing up for families and calling on the EU to take action.”

“We think it’s unfair that families are being charged VAT on essential equipment needed to keep their children safe on every car journey.”

Halfords will reduce its entire range of child car seats to a price equivalent to no VAT from today (Friday, 5 September) until 17 November.

Support Halfords’ campaign to abolish VAT on child car seats by visiting Halfords.com or https://www.change.org/p/european-union-abolish-vat-on-child-car-seats#share

and signing the petition. Spread the word by connecting with Halfords on Facebook or Twitter by using #LoveSafety.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact Halfords@z-pr.com or 020 7896 3404

The Halfords Group is the UK's leading retailer of automotive, leisure and cycling products and through Halfords Autocentres also one of the UK's leading independent car servicing and repair operator.

Halfords customers shop at 467 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland and at halfords.com for pick-up at their local store or direct home delivery. Halfords Autocentres operates from around 290 sites nationally and offers motorists dealership-quality MOTs, repairs and car servicing at affordable prices. Halfords employs approximately 12,000 colleagues and sells around 10,000 product lines in stores, increasing to around 30,000 lines online. The product offering encompasses significant ranges in car parts, cycles, in-car technology, child seats, roof boxes, outdoor leisure and camping equipment.

Halfords own brands include Apollo and Carrera cycles, augmented by exclusive UK distribution rights for the premium-ranged Boardman cycles and accessories and the retro-inspired Pendleton designs from Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton which combine classic lines with modern practicality.

New ranges are launching across the Carrera, Mongoose, Boardman and Raleigh brands with exclusive lines ahead of the Tour de France this summer.

In outdoor leisure, we sell a premium range of camping equipment including brands such as Outwell. Halfords offers customers expert advice and a fitting service called "wefit" for car parts, child seats, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment systems, and a "werepair" service for cycles.

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