Germany: No manufacturers in canceling Lindner’s e-car purchase premiums

In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) announced his intention to cancel the e-car purchase subsidy. For the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, this would be a “serious breach of trust”.

The International Automobile Manufacturers Association (VDIK) has protested against Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) ‘s statements to Welt am Sonntag about the imminent cancellation of e – car premiums. “For good reason, in order to achieve the national climate targets, the governing parties announced in the coalition agreement the further development and continuation of the electric car market premium until 2025,” said VDIK President Reinhard Zirpel, according to a statement issued over the weekend.

“Electronic vehicle manufacturers and their customers rely on this. A sharp cessation of the e-car premium would therefore be a serious breach of trust.”

Zirpel warned of a downturn in the German electronics car market and rising CO2 emissions from transport. “The debate over ending the premiums for electric vehicles alone is already causing huge uncertainty at the moment. The federal government should put an end to this speculation immediately,” he said.

Earlier, Federal Finance Minister Lindner had called for the abolition of market premiums for electric cars. “We just can no longer afford the misdirected subsidies,” he told Welt am Sonntag. “If I do what I want, for example, the purchase premiums for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will be abolished. Until now, cars were subsidized with up to 20,000 euros during their lifetime, even for “Highly paid. That’s too much. We can save billions there, which we can use more sensibly.”

The finance minister insists the federal government must comply with the debt brake, which was suspended during the pandemic again in 2023. Lindner wants to prioritize projects. In early July, the cabinet will approve the draft budget.