A new targeted support scheme

On 9 October 2025 the German coalition committee reached agreement on a new package of incentives to restart consumer support for battery‑electric cars. Vice‑Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD) announced that roughly €3 billion from the national Climate & Transformation Fund and the EU Social Climate Fund will be reallocated to assist households with low and middle incomes to acquire zero‑emission cars. The reallocation means the subsidies should not enlarge the federal budget deficit, which has become sensitive following a 2023 constitutional court ruling.

The exact design is still under discussion. Klingbeil said the support might be structured either as purchase grants – similar to the “environmental bonus” that was terminated in late 2023 – or as social leasing, following the French model. In June, SPD transport spokesperson Isabel Cademartori suggested that a social leasing programme could allow people to drive an electric car for around €99 per month over a three‑year period. She argued that the programme should extend beyond socially disadvantaged households to include commuters earning €40 000–€60 000 per year, reflecting the reality that many middle‑income workers rely on cars to reach their jobs.

Context: previous incentives and current tax benefits

Germany’s national purchase subsidy (the Umweltbonus) paid out roughly €10 billion to EV buyers between 2016 and 2023 but was terminated abruptly in December 2023 due to budget constraints and a constitutional court decision. Applications closed on 17 December 2023, and the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) shut down the programme on 1 January 2024. As a result, there has been no national purchase subsidy for battery‑electric cars in 2024–25.

The current incentive landscape therefore relies mainly on tax benefits and corporate allowances. Battery‑electric cars registered by 31 December 2025 remain exempt from vehicle tax for up to 10 years, though the exemption can end as early as 2030. Employees driving company EVs worth up to €95 000 are taxed at a reduced benefit‑in‑kind rate of 0.25 %, and employers can offer workplace charging tax‑free. A separate incentive package unveiled in June 2025 introduced special depreciation allowances (up to 40 % in the first year) for corporate EV fleets and accelerated permitting for charging infrastructure, signalling a pivot towards supply‑side measures.

What the new programme could look like

According to the coalition agreement, the new €3 billion fund aims to bridge the equity gap created by the end of the environmental bonus and to encourage those with modest incomes to adopt EVs. The programme is expected to:

• Target low‑ and middle‑income households: both socially disadvantaged families and commuters earning up to around €60 000 could be eligible. Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that the subsidies will be aimed at middle‑ and lower‑income households.
• Offer both purchase and leasing options: the final design could include direct grants for new EV purchases or long‑term social leasing contracts at affordable monthly rates. SPD negotiators have floated a €99‑per‑month lease over three years as an example.
• Be financed by existing funds: the programme will draw on the Climate & Transformation Fund and the EU Social Climate Fund rather than raising new debt.

Further details, such as the amount of subsidy per vehicle, eligibility criteria and whether plug‑in hybrids will be included, are expected to be clarified after consultations with the automotive industry at the so‑called car summit between government leaders and manufacturers.

Significance for Germany’s e‑mobility transition

The announcement is widely seen as an effort to reignite consumer demand after sales growth slowed following the end of the environmental bonus. By focusing on lower and middle incomes, the scheme addresses concerns that electric cars remain unaffordable for many households. It also responds to calls from industry and unions to ensure a socially fair transition to climate‑friendly mobility while safeguarding jobs in the automotive sector.

Positive signals include the broad political support for targeted incentives and the willingness to explore innovative financing mechanisms such as social leasing. However, the programme must still be harmonised with Germany’s wider fiscal consolidation efforts and fit within EU state‑aid rules. If implemented, it could serve as a template for inclusive e‑mobility policies in other EU member states.

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.