Italy considers EV subsidies for low-income families
According to a report by Bloomberg, the plan would primarily support low-income families who drive a Euro 2 model. People with an annual income of less than 30,000 euros would receive up to 13,750 euros if they trade their old diesel or petrol car for an electric one. Another requirement is that the vehicle must be at least 20 years old.
The goal is to “change Italy’s vehicle fleet, which is one the oldest in Europe, with at least 11 million EURO 3 cars or lower-grade vehicles,” a government document obtained by the news agency says. Moreover, the country’s EV market share is lower than in other major European economies. According to a spokesman for the Ministry of Industry, the plan will be presented to representatives of the automotive industry on 1 February.
It is not the first time Italy has toyed with the idea of incentivising electric mobility. In October 2023, it was reported that Rome could model a subsidy scheme similar to that in France, which came into effect on 1 January 2024. It introduced a points system based on various environmental criteria, including not only the characteristics of the vehicle model itself, including its weight but also the origin and environmental impact of the materials used (including the battery), as well as the environmental performance of the assembly plant and the transport routes to the point of sale. The scheme is indirectly aimed at limiting the import of Chinese vehicles.
Also, in early 2022, the Italian government announced that it would provide 650 million euros per year for 2022, 2023, and 2024 as incentives to promote the uptake of electric and low-emission vehicles.
However, the country’s automotive industry has been quite outspoken about e.g. a ban of ICE vehicles in Europe from 2035. It was also one of the driving forces behind the EU watering down proposed rules on new Euro 7 emissions standards.
1 Comment