BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - In a bid to make the purchase of electric vehicles more attractive, the Bundestag has extended the exemption of e-cars from motor vehicle tax by five years. Under this legislative change, electric vehicles first registered by the end of 2030 will remain tax-exempt for up to ten years--though only until December 31, 2035 at the latest. Those who switch at the end of the eligibility period will therefore benefit from just five years of tax exemption. This constitutes a "clear incentive for an early transition," explained SPD lawmaker Ingo Vogel.
Without the Bundestag's decision, the tax exemption would have expired completely at the end of this year. According to the governing coalition, the extension will result in a revenue shortfall of one billion euros.
Hauke Finger of the AfD--the only parliamentary group to vote against the law--accused the federal government of wanting to "throw this money out the window on a whim." CDU lawmaker Stefan Korbach, on the other hand, described the sum as justifiable, arguing that it facilitates the adoption of electromobility while also strengthening the automotive industry and its suppliers.
