More than 100,000 vehicle owners in Germany have now submitted applications for the federal government’s new electric vehicle subsidy program, according to figures released by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bafa). By the beginning of August, Bafa reported that just over 102,000 applications had been received, of which more than 28,000 have already been approved.
Nearly three-quarters of these applications come from households with a taxable income of up to €60,000. The program is targeted at households with a maximum taxable income of €80,000, though the ceiling is raised to €90,000 for families with at least two children. The federal office also plans to release data in the coming days detailing which car brands are benefiting most from the subsidy.
The subsidy amounts vary based on income. For purely electric vehicles, the aid ranges between €3,000 and €5,000, while plug-in hybrids qualify for between €1,500 and €4,500. Additionally, families and single parents with minor children residing in the household can receive up to €1,000. Overall, the funding program allocates three billion euros until 2029.
Previously, in July, the Ministry for the Environment noted that Tesla and other foreign manufacturers were the primary beneficiaries, a finding which had triggered a national debate regarding the structure and operation of the subsidy scheme.
