For several years, electric car customers in Germany have been able to take advantage of a government environmental bonus. A week before Christmas, the scheme was removed with just 3 days' notice. This led to an immediate decline in sales of "affordable" electric cars such as the Fiat 500e and Opel Corsa e.
Environmental bonus that disappeared
Since 2016, German electric car customers have been able to benefit from government support for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles. The money was transferred to the customers as a bonus after the cars had been paid for and delivered. Several dealers calculated the bonus when they put a price tag on the cars. The rates for 2023 were €4.500 in environmental bonus for cars under €40.000 and €3.000 for cars between €40.000 to €60.000. Cars over €60.000 gave no payouts.
BAFA (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle), which administered the support scheme, was forced to terminate the support scheme at short notice because there were no funds to continue - and a new state budget did not allow for the continuation of the scheme. One can therefore with good reason direct criticism at the politicians (SPD) - but what is really worthy of criticism in this case is the way in which BAFA discontinued the scheme. The liquidation took effect just 3 days after it was announced. Several tens of thousands of car customers who had ordered electric cars were affected.
The car manufacturers footed the bill
The liquidation was a slap in the face for those who had signed a contract but had not yet received their cars. No one imagined that the environmental bonus would disappear overnight. The consequences could have been serious had it not been for several car manufacturers choosing to cover the bonus for affected customers. Stellantis, Hyundai, KIA and Dacia are among the manufacturers that prevented customers who were waiting for cars from ending up in the dark.
Affects sales of small electric cars
In Germany, electric cars are far more expensive than cars that run on petrol or diesel. For example, you can buy Opel Corsa with petrol engine from €20, while prices for similarly equipped electric cars start at €300 without environmental bonus. For the same price you can get a well-equipped petrol engine Opel Grandland, which gives significantly more car for the money. In contrast to Norway, German car dealers still carry a full range of petrol and diesel-powered cars.
Opel Corsa – an example
The Opel Corsa was the best-selling small car in Germany in 2023 with almost 54 cars, of which one in four ran on electricity, according to Stellantis. The Corsa-e then also ended up in 000th place among all electric cars sold.
In 2023, you could buy an Opel Corsa-e for just over €30 when the full "Umweltbonus" was deducted. in 000, the Corsa-e has, among other things, a new front - and in the GS version - an increase in power from 2024hp to 136hp, an increase in battery capacity from 156 kWh to 50 kWh and a range of up to 51 km. The price in Norway starts at NOK 405. If we add equipment such as an 344kW on-board charger, a technology package with adaptive LED lighting, navigation, a panoramic glass roof and additional paint, the price ends up at NOK 900 without winter tyres. In Germany, the same car costs NOK 11 (!).
It is worth remembering that if full value added tax were introduced on electric cars here at home, a well-equipped Opel Corsa-e would cost half a million kroner delivered with winter tyres.
It is thought-provoking that electric cars need government support in order for most people to be able to afford to buy them.
Facts
Figures based on registration statistics for new cars in Germany
Share of electric cars throughout 2023: 18,4%
Share of electric cars January 2024: 10,52%
Share of electric cars February 2024: 12,64%
Sales figures for two of the models which in 2023 received the full effect of the environmental bonus.
| Month | Opel Corsa-e | Fiat 500-e |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 3079 | 3193 |
| September 2023 | 2175 | 1765 |
| October 2023 | 899 | 1760 |
| November 2023 | 1737 | 1730 |
| December 2023 *) | 2287 | 3001 |
| January 2023 | 286 | 735 |
| February | 241 | 149 |
*) German environmental bonus for zero-emission vehicles ended on 17.12.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX
Source: goingelectric.de
16.03.2023Several newspapers report that the Fiat factory has now cut down to one shift at the Mirafiori factory due to failing sales of the Fiat 500e. According to Stellantis, this is due to the loss of support schemes for electric cars.
See
