SPD calls on Habeck to stop subsidies for e-cars more slowly

After the budget ruling - SPD calls on Habeck to stop subsidies for e-cars more slowly

In the opinion of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, the stop to the state purchase premium for electric cars is too abrupt. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs under Robert Habeck (Greens), the application deadline for the subsidy is to end this Sunday at midnight.

"However, we feel that the funding stop on December 17, which was announced at short notice on Saturday, is extremely unfortunate," three deputy leaders of the SPD parliamentary group told dpa. "We are therefore calling on Climate Protection Minister Habeck to organize a more reliable transition."

Parliamentary group deputies Detlef Müller, Matthias Miersch and Verena Hubertz explained: "Citizens expect realistic transition periods from political decision-makers. When buying a new car, most people have to calculate very carefully how they can afford it and have certainly factored in the premium."

In principle, however, they support the premature expiry of the subsidy. "In view of the overall budgetary situation, savings have to be made in a wide variety of areas. The coalition has therefore agreed to phase out the e-car subsidy program," explained the three Social Democrats.

According to the ministry, the e-car subsidy was previously due to expire at the end of 2024 - or before if the funds were used up. As of Saturday, the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (Bafa) will now only continue to process applications that have been received by the end of this Sunday, as announced by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Grants that have already been approved are therefore not affected by the end of funding and will be paid out.

ZDK speaks of "unbelievable breach of trust"

The German Association of the Motor Trade (ZDK) also sharply criticized the abrupt end to the funding. "This is an unbelievable breach of trust for tens of thousands of customers who ordered their e-vehicles on the assumption that the subsidy would be paid," said ZDK President Arne Joswig in a statement. "The minimum would be to let the environmental bonus run until the end of the year and at the same time, in coordination with the federal states and local authorities, ensure that registration offices remain open until December 31, 2023, so that registrations can be made."

Joswig went on to explain: "If we assume a realistic 60,000 affected vehicles and a premium of 4,500 euros each, we are talking about 270 million euros, which will primarily be charged to customers. The goal of getting 15 million battery electric vehicles on Germany's roads by 2030 is moving even further away."

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1. Detlef Müller, a member of the SPD parliamentary group, expressed disappointment regarding the sudden stop of funding for electric vehicle subsidies.
2. The SPD parliamentary group in Germany's Bundestag believes that the abrupt end to the e-car purchase premium is not well-timed.
3. According to Miersch and Hubertz, deputies in the SPD parliamentary group, many citizens have included the premium in their vehicle purchasing budgets.
4. Robert Habeck, Climate Protection Minister, announced that the application deadline for the subsidy would end on Sunday night.
5. The e-car subsidy was initially planned to expire at the end of 2024, but after confirming funding usage, the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (Bafa) will only process applications received up to December 31, 2023.
6. Matthias Miersch, a deputy, supports the early termination of the subsidy considerations, citing budgetary constraints.
7. Arne Joswig, president of the German Association of the Motor Trade (ZDK), expressed outrage at the abrupt funding withdrawal for e-cars, a move that could cost customers over 270 million euros.
8. Electro vehicles, an essential component in Germany's goal of having 15 million battery electric vehicles on the road by 2030, may fall short of this objective due to the abrupt funding stop.
9. Joswig proposed measures to maintain market confidence, including allowing the environmental bonus to run until the end of the year and collaborating with state and local authorities to ensure the registration offices remain open until December 31, 2023.

Source: www.stern.de