Italy plans new EV purchase incentive from September

According to Minister Pichetto, around 600 million euros will be made available from the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR), among others, to promote the purchase of at least 39,000 electric vehicles by 30 June 2026. Contributions of up to 11,000 euros are planned for private individuals with an ISEE of up to 30,000 euros and up to 9,000 euros for individuals with an ISEE of between 30,000 and 40,000 euros. Grants of up to 30 per cent of the purchase price are planned for micro-enterprises, with an upper limit of 20,000 euros per new vehicle.

To explain: the ISEE or ‘Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente’ is an indicator intended to reflect the family’s economic situation and is given as the value of an annual income; however, the actual income does not have to correspond exactly to this value, as other factors are taken into account. The ISEE is also used, for example, to obtain financial support in the care sector or discounts at public facilities such as daycare centres, schools or universities.

The Minister further explained: “The goal is to purchase at least 39,000 zero-emission vehicles by 30 June 2026 thanks to a measure for which funds of around 600 million euros will be made available, including from the PNRR.” The ministry is currently finalising the ministerial decree that will define the criteria and operating procedures. The details have not yet been finalised. Pichetto consistently refers to ‘auto elettriche’ or ‘veicoli elettrici’, meaning electric cars or vehicles. In previous funding programmes in Italy, (plug-in) hybrids and, in some cases, ‘clean’ combustion engines were also eligible for funding.

The criteria must now be formulated quickly, as Pichetto said that the subsidy programme should start at the beginning of next month. According to his statements in a question and answer session in the Chamber of Deputies, an IT platform is also to be set up that “gives beneficiaries direct access to the incentives and allows economic operators to offer new electric vehicles easily and transparently.”

Italy had already launched an eMobility subsidy programme last year, but the pot was used up after just a few hours. However, at 200 million euros, this subsidy programme had a much smaller budget. In addition, all applicants were eligible for up to 6,000 euros in funding. For people with an ISEE of less than 30,000 euros, the funding amount was sometimes higher.

mase.gov.it (in Italian)