Overview
- The scheme offers up to €6,000 for new battery‑electric cars and smaller amounts for eligible plug‑in hybrids and range‑extender models, limited to households under an €80,000 taxable‑income cap with child top‑ups.
- Support applies to vehicles first registered from January 1, 2026, with online applications opening in May, a one‑year filing window, and a 36‑month minimum holding period.
- Plug‑in hybrids must either emit no more than 60 g CO2/km or provide at least 80 km electric range, with the precise WLTP/EAER measurement basis to be clarified in the funding guideline by end‑February; PHEV eligibility is planned through June 30, 2027.
- The program carries a €3 billion budget that the government estimates will cover roughly 800,000 vehicles over the next several years.
- Automakers are moving to sweeten deals, with Citroën matching the state bonus and Ford adding a €5,000 buyer incentive, while environmental groups decry PHEV inclusion and the exclusion of used EVs as new Destatis data show ownership concentrates among higher‑income households.