The Spanish government recently announced €700 million of state investment to boost electric vehicle sales in the country.
When announcing the investment measures, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that electric vehicles should be both "competitive" and "affordable" for Spaniards.
"We are going to take the wheel of the transport revolution, because we have everything we need to lead a major transformation," Sánchez said.
READ ALSO: Spain to invest €700 million to boost electric vehicle sales
Sánchez presented the plan as a wider action plan for the automotive industry following discussions and meetings between the motor industry and Spain's Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
The plan, called Plan Auto 2030, is made up of 25 measures to help the sector tackle the transition to electric vehicles.
How Spain wants to convince you to buy an electric car
For the first time, among the measures are direct financial incentives to buy an electric car, with the funds and plan run from central government as opposed to regional authorities as had been done in the past with eclectic vehicle rollouts.
The total €700 million package includes €400 million for subsidies to incentivise electric car purchases next year, as well as a further €300 million to build electric charging stations in areas of the countries underserved by the technology.
READ ALSO: Is it worth getting an electric car in Spain in 2025?
‘To date, we have mobilised €1.7 billion through the Moves III Plan, and now, starting in March, we are going to introduce a new line of subsidies to continue incentivising the purchase of electric vehicles, which we have called the Auto + Plan, with €400 million in 2026," Sánchez announced.
The government is thus responding to a long-standing demand from the Spanish car sector for direct subsidies for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids be paid upon purchase.
"What we want to guarantee is greater agility and consistency in management, and that the subsidies reach families just when they need them," Sánchez said.
Information from motoring website Carwow.es states that "Subsidies of up to €7,000 will be maintained for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles, especially when scrapping an old car."
Though it is still unconfirmed exactly how much or how the subsidies could be, information from Hyundai explains that the subsidy is expected to apply to:
- Pure electric vehicles (BEVs)
- Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with minimum electric range (expected to be 40 km)
- Zero-emission vans
The general requirements are expected to be similar to those of previous programmes, and could include:
- Being a resident of Spain
- Purchasing a new electrified vehicle: The car must meet certain emission values and belong to the eligible categories.
- Maximum vehicle price: There will be a price limit to avoid subsidising high-end models. This is normally around €45,000–50,000 for passenger cars.
- Keeping the car for a minimum number of years: A commitment to ownership for between 2-4 years will be required to prevent speculation.
- Applying for the subsidy within the official deadline: Funds will be limited and allocated in order of application.
READ ALSO: Spain to give drivers grace period for mandatory V-16 emergency lights
Comments