Overview
- The program offers a €3,000 base grant for battery-electric cars and €1,500 for eligible plug-in hybrids or range‑extender models, rising to as much as €6,000 for lower-income households and families.
- Eligibility is capped at a taxable household income of €80,000, increasing by €5,000 per child up to €90,000, with per‑child top‑ups of €500 to a maximum of €1,000.
- Support is retroactive for first-time registrations from January 1, 2026 and is limited to private purchases or leases, excluding used vehicles and companies, with a 36‑month minimum holding period.
- Plug-in hybrids qualify only if they emit no more than 60 g CO2/km or provide at least 80 km electric range, with a review planned from July 2027 to assess real‑world emissions criteria.
- Funding totals €3 billion from the Climate and Transformation Fund for an estimated 800,000 vehicles, while experts such as Ferdinand Dudenhöffer question the need and warn of short‑lived demand effects and reduced manufacturer discounts.