How France aims to discourage buying of Chinese EVs
Randolph W. Hurst
Electrical Industry Publisher, Educator, Digital Marketing Expert - The Electricity Forum - 18,000+ LinkedIn Connections
PARIS - France has published new eligibility rules for electric car incentives to exclude EVs made in China, even though carmakers in Europe do not have more affordable rival models on the French market.
WHY IS FRANCE REVISING ITS EV BONUS ELIGIBILITY RULES? The French government currently offers buyers a cash incentive of between 5,000 and 7,000 euros in cash for eligible models to get more electric cars on the road, at a total cost of 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) per year.
However, in the absence of cheap European-made EVs, a third of all incentives are going to consumers buying EVs made in China, a French finance ministry source said. The trend has helped spur a surge in imports and a growing competitive gap with domestic producers.
The scheme will be revamped from Dec. 15 to take into account the carbon emitted in a model's manufacturing process.
President Emmanuel Macron and government ministers have made little secret that they want to make sure French state cash is not benefiting Chinese carmakers.
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