Overview

• From 1 January 2026 buyers can receive up to €4,000 for battery-electric cars priced below €45,000 net, with plug-in hybrids excluded and strict emissions criteria reported.
• For the first time the subsidy is expected to cover used electric cars to make entry costs more manageable for households that rarely buy new vehicles.
• Targeting will focus on lower and middle incomes, with reports citing thresholds around €3,800 gross per month or €45,000 per year.
• Roughly €3 billion is set to come from the Climate and Transformation Fund and EU sources, with BAFA expected to administer applications and payouts.
• Officials have not finalized whether support will take the form of a purchase bonus or a social-leasing model, and detailed eligibility and anti-fraud rules are still being worked out amid heavy EV discounting and rising competition from Chinese brands.