E-car subsidy gone, trust gone
From one day to the next, the German government is making electric car buyers 4500 euros poorer. The decision is problematic, even if it only affects a few thousand Germans. This is not a good sign.
Anyone who had been following the media coverage closely on Saturday morning could hardly believe their eyes: the German government simply ended subsidies for electric vehicles in passing. Most readers may now be thinking: "I don't care, I didn't buy an electric car anyway." But the signal is still devastating: planning security is gone if the government makes a decision overnight that has a serious impact on people's wallets. And for a reason that can be traced back to poor government work. You remember: the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court on the budget.
The decision is problematic in substance, even if it only affects a few thousand Germans. Namely those buyers of an electric vehicle who were expecting delivery in the next few days, weeks or months. And even some customers whose cars have already been delivered but not yet registered. The subsidy could only be applied for after registration, not when the car was ordered. Electric cars have long delivery times of up to a year. These buyers are now being hit hard. Because not everyone has the money so loose that they couldn't care less. Most of them will have to work hard for their money and plan their budget carefully. So 4500 euros more or less is a lot of money. After all, that was the amount of funding from the federal government. It would have been more appropriate to extend the deadline until next year or to link the subsidy to the date of purchase rather than the date of registration.
It is debatable whether subsidies are the right way to support a new technology or the economy in general. However, if a decision is made in favor of subsidies, they should be maintained until the actually agreed end date of 2024. The abrupt end of subsidies for e-cars is a devastating signal, especially in terms of planning security. And as is so often the case, those whose financial leeway is limited will suffer the most.
The SPD is likely to suffer as the decision affects its clientele. The Greens are also unlikely to score any points. Their voters generally earn a fair amount of money, but as the Ministry of Economic Affairs is responsible, the chaos is the fault of the Green Party. All in all, the traffic light government is once again in a bad position and once again a lot of trust has been lost in this federal government. And rightly so this time.
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This sudden decision to end subsidies for electric vehicles by the German government will negatively impact Robert Habeck, as the Minister of Economic Affairs, due to the loss of trust and criticism from affected voters. The automotive industry, particularly companies focusing on electromobility, may also face challenges as a result, as many buyers relied on these subsidies.
Source: www.ntv.de
