Everyone gets something with the big stimulus package of the federal government. But the German auto industry was unable to implement its will. What do manufacturers, investors, experts and environmentalists say?
The biggest stimulus package of the post-war period has been decided. It contains a number of large items and smaller items. But one thing is missing: The purchase premium for clean new cars of all kinds, which is vehemently demanded by the auto industry, will not exist. Instead, the federal government has doubled its share of the purchase premium for electric cars to 6,000 euros. The agreement says that the manufacturer’s share of the premium (up to 3,000 euros) remains unaffected. Accordingly, the purchase premium rises to up to 9,000 euros. There is no money for cars with a pure combustion engine – but for cars with a plug-in hybrid. An overview of the reactions.
The experts say that
“In electric mobility, the € 6,000 is a very powerful impetus for purely battery-powered cars,” says Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer. However, the industry expert from the Institute Customer Insight (ICI) at the University of St. Gallen warns: “Let’s see to what extent the car manufacturers cut their current subsidies for electric car premiums. I wouldn’t rule that out.” It would mean that the entire possible premium of up to 9,000 euros does not reach the customer.
In addition, the boost for the electric car only affects a small submarket of probably five or ten percent of the overall market. “The big boost for the remaining 90 percent is missing, and it is precisely this 90 percent that moves our economy and our social product.”
Industry expert Ellen Enkel sees it similarly. Supporting electric cars in particular would be of little use to German corporations: “This primarily benefits foreign manufacturers.” The reason: only one in four of the eligible electric models would be German. Find out how Germany’s top economists rate the package here.
That’s what the environmentalists say
No promotion of burners – a decision with large loopholes, criticize environmentalists. “The additional funding for vehicles with plug-in hybrid technology is a purchase premium for combustion engines through the back door,” says Jens Hilgenberg from the environmental organization BUND. These cars combine a gasoline engine with an electric drive – and often drive in burner mode.
A hidden purchase premium for combustion engines – even parts of the industry confirm that it exists. Dirk Vogel from the network of the automotive industry in Saxony, for example, is not disappointed about the lack of funding for diesel and petrol engines: “There is an incentive to buy because of the reduction in VAT,” says Vogel in the MDR.
Nevertheless, the combustion engine is the big loser, says Greenpeace climate expert Tobias Austrup. “The technological support model has lost political support.” Greenpeace also criticizes the increased premium for plug-in hybrids as ecologically nonsensical. The environmentalists call the economic stimulus program “at best pale green”.
That’s what the automakers say
Despite all demands no purchase premium for combustion engines – the big media machine of the car industry failed. The next day, however, you don’t notice that. “We welcome the economic stimulus package and the overall economic impact for the country,” says BMW CEO Oliver Zipse. “The temporary reduction in VAT is an important measure to get demand in Germany back on track,” says the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).
And what may seem self-evident to many is worth a message to the association: The VDA members want to pass on the price advantage from the reduction in value added tax to customers in full.
That’s what investors say
Financial market analysts viewed the decision to subsidize combustion as a disappointment. For example, Jose Asumendi from the US bank JPMorgan spoke of a negative surprise. Investors also show little enthusiasm for the focus on promoting clean drives: the share values of Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen fell by up to 6.7 percent.
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