BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Awareness of the new e-car subsidy among the German population still leaves much to be desired. One in three people (34 percent) in Germany have not yet heard about the new incentive. This is the result of a representative online survey conducted by the polling institute YouGov on behalf of the German Press Agency. A total of 2,100 people were surveyed between February 6 and 9.
Furthermore, a majority of respondents who had already heard about the new subsidy do not feel well informed. According to the survey, 42 percent said they felt rather poorly informed, while 12 percent felt very poorly informed. About one in three (32 percent) considered themselves rather well informed, and 6 percent felt very well informed.
Opinions Diverge on the Subsidy
When it comes to evaluating the subsidy, opinions were divided. Nearly one in five rated it as poor, and one in four as mediocre. Thirty percent of respondents viewed the subsidy positively, and one in ten rated it as very good.
More than half of those surveyed (53 percent) stated that the new subsidy would have no impact on their considerations regarding the purchase or leasing of an e-car. Additionally, 21 percent responded that an e-car was not an option for them at all. For 14 percent of respondents, the new subsidy makes buying or leasing an e-car somewhat more likely, and for 6 percent, it makes it much more likely.
Subsidies Range from 1,500 to 6,000 Euros
Just over a month ago, the Federal Environment Ministry announced that private customers purchasing pure electric cars, plug-in hybrids, or electric cars with a range extender could once again receive state subsidies. Depending on the type of vehicle and personal circumstances, the subsidy ranges from 1,500 to 6,000 euros. However, there are income limits up to which the subsidy is paid out—these are set at 80,000 euros household income per year, or 90,000 euros for households with two children.
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) predicted at the presentation in January that the new purchase subsidy would provide a boost to the German and European automotive industries. According to Schneider, half of the households that have purchased an electric car in recent years were below the 80,000-euro threshold.
According to figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, the eleven most frequently newly registered pure electric cars last year came from the VW Group or BMW Group. Leading the way were VW's ID.7 and ID.3 models. The situation is less clear with plug-in hybrids, but even here, seven of the ten most popular models come from BMW, Mercedes, or the VW Group.
Industry Expert Criticizes Subsidy
Customer interest surged shortly after the announcement of the new subsidy, confirmed the online platforms MeinAuto.de and Carwow, as well as Thomas Peckruhn, President of the Central Association of the German Motor Trade, when asked.
Industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer criticized the new subsidy. Overall, he said, the payment is "a tax-funded incentive program" that the market does not need. After all, even before its introduction, increasing discounts on electric cars were already driving up sales./rwi/DP/zb
