Funding bonus: VW e-up! benefits the most from the environmental bonus – Image: Grzegorz Czapski|Shutterstock.com
Since May 2016, buyers of electric cars in Germany have been supported with a bonus, the so-called environmental bonus. According to current information from the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA), the e-up! The car manufacturer Volkswagen has benefited the most from this so far: VW has received around 32,000 applications since the purchase bonus was introduced (as of October 1, 2021). The EQ fortwo (2017 model) from the manufacturer Smart (Daimler) takes second place with around 21,000 buyers who have applied for the environmental bonus. Two models from the US car manufacturer Tesla and the Kona Elektro from the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai are also represented in the top list.
Amount of the environmental bonus for the purchase of electric vehicles – Image: Xpert.Digital
The federal government recently increased the premium as part of an economic stimulus package: the federal government is now adding 6,000 euros to the purchase of a battery-electric or fuel cell vehicle for vehicles with a net list price of less than 40,000 euros. Together with the manufacturer's subsidy of 3,000 euros, the purchase premium totals 9,000 euros. According to media reports, the state funding bonus in its current scope could expire at the end of the year and then fall back to 3,000 euros. People who bought their electric car this year could also be affected: The increased bonus will only be paid out if the application for the environmental bonus was submitted to BAFA by December 31, 2021. However, the eligible electric vehicle must already be registered at this point. So anyone who has ordered an electric car and can no longer register for it in 2021 may receive less funding than expected.
VW e-up! benefits the most from the environmental bonus
Number of environmental bonuses applied for for electric cars – Image: Statista
Environmental bonuses applied for for electric cars in Germany by manufacturer until 2021
Environmental bonuses applied for for electric cars in Germany by manufacturer up to 2021 – Image: Xpert.Digital
Volkswagen is number one when it comes to applications for purchase bonuses for electric cars. By October 2021, the number of purchase bonuses applied for for battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles from the Wolfsburg-based car manufacturer was around 137,000. Mercedes-Benz and BMW followed in second and third place.
Vehicles up to 65,000 euros can be funded
The purchase (purchase or leasing) of a battery-electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicle that is registered for the first time and does not exceed a net list price of the basic model of 65,000 euros is eligible for funding.
Incentive to buy electric cars
The aim of the bonus payments when purchasing cars, introduced in July 2016, was to promote electromobility and to stimulate the purchase of comparatively expensive automobiles with electric drives in order to get closer to the goal of one million electric cars in 2020 set by the federal government at the time. On January 1, 2021, around 309,100 electric cars were registered in Germany. New registrations of electric cars have increased steadily since 2016.
Number of environmental bonuses applied for for electric cars in Germany by manufacturer up to October 2021
- Volkswagen – 137,016 apply for environmental bonuses
- Mercedes-Benz – 87,147 apply for environmental bonuses
- BMW – 79,416 apply for environmental bonuses
- Renault – 76,712 apply for environmental bonuses
- Audi – 48,994 apply for environmental bonuses
- Hyundai – 48,478 apply for environmental bonuses
- Tesla – 47,111 apply for environmental bonuses
- smart – 43,918 apply for environmental bonuses
- Kia – 32,808 apply for environmental bonuses
- koda – 28,643 apply for environmental bonuses
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