PRESS STATEMENT Vehicle tax exemption for electric cars: An important signal, but not enough

“Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil made it clear today that the vehicle tax exemption for electric cars is to be extended through 2035. This is a positive, albeit long-overdue, signal—but it is not enough to stabilize the automotive industry and secure jobs in the sector. More needs to be done.

The federal government must now take all necessary measures to ensure that electric mobility becomes widely adopted. In doing so, it must focus above all on middle- and low-income earners. This includes tax depreciation options for private individuals as well, a socially oriented leasing model, and subsidies for the purchase of used electric cars. All of this must be accompanied by a faster expansion of the charging infrastructure and greater price transparency at charging stations. Anything that helps make the automotive industry in Germany fit for the future must be implemented quickly and pragmatically now, so that good jobs are preserved and new ones are created.

At the same time, the federal government must hold employers accountable: It is unacceptable for companies to receive relief now while simultaneously continuing to cut jobs or relocate them abroad.”

Further information and press photos of Christiane Benner