Overview
- The government confirmed Sunday that the scheme, launched in May with retroactive eligibility from 1 January 2026, has paid subsidies to 100,000 applicants.
- The program is means‑tested and restricted to private households buying or leasing new battery‑electric vehicles, fuel‑cell cars, and qualifying plug‑in hybrids, with payments ranging from €1,500 to €6,000 depending on income and family size.
- Roughly 90 percent of payments went to pure battery‑electric cars, fewer than 10 percent to plug‑in hybrids, and about half of the supported vehicles are leased, according to ministry figures.
- The Climate and Transformation Fund provided €3 billion intended to cover an estimated 800,000 vehicles over three to four years, but officials now expect the money may run out sooner and have not committed to any top‑up.
- Ministry officials and the environment minister say the subsidy helps lower‑income households shield themselves from high fuel costs and reduce reliance on oil imports, while observers should watch for fiscal decisions before the next federal election that will determine the program’s future.