Overview
- The government reinstated the so‑called Tankrabatt to run from October 1 to December 31, cutting energy and VAT components by about 16.7 cents per litre.
- Data from motoring groups showed clear morning price drops on Thursday, with ADAC reporting average falls near 14.5 cents for Super E10 and 15.2 cents for diesel by 08:00.
- Many stations then used the single permitted daily price increase at 12:00 to raise prices sharply, producing a common pattern of a pre‑noon dip and a noon spike.
- The Bundeskartellamt has opened close monitoring of retail prices because past rounds passed only about 80% of cuts to consumers and regulators want to see whether suppliers retain part of the relief.
- Critics call the measure an expensive, untargeted subsidy that favors heavy drivers, while the EU commission’s proposal to examine E20 ethanol blends has moved wider fuel policy and supply options onto the agenda.