The new funding for electric cars has caused customer interest to skyrocket. Both the online platforms Meinauto.de and Carwow as well as the President of the Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (ZDK), Thomas Peckruhn (64), confirmed this at the request of the dpa. The number of inquiries on the platforms has sometimes multiplied.
“We are currently seeing a very high level of interest. I think it is being very well received by private customers,” says Peckruhn. Experience shows that such government actions always produce a clear reaction among customers. This was already the case with the scrappage bonus in 2009 and then also with the first electric car funding. Unfortunately, its abrupt end also had a very strong effect in the other direction.
Many customers also come with questions, says Peckruhn. Things get particularly complicated with leasing contracts when the premium has to be pre-financed – after all, you can only apply for it after approval. This means that some customers are currently waiting to see what the specific regulations will be. The ZDK has therefore already called on the federal government not to waste any time in implementing the program.
However, another part of the customers had already ordered, some in the old year, after it became clear that the timing of approval was crucial for funding. Given the delivery times for new cars, it usually takes months between ordering and new registration. It is therefore likely that the effects of the funding on new registration numbers will only be fully evident in a few months.
Sharp rises in the network
At Meinauto.de, traffic on the pages about electric cars, plug-in hybrids and bonuses has increased more than tenfold compared to December, a spokesman says. Interestingly, however, interest in other types of drive has also increased, albeit to a much lesser extent. “The funding has probably awakened the desire for new cars in many people.”
After the official announcement of the funding, Carwow recorded an increase in inquiries about electric cars to more than three times compared to the previous week. Electric vehicles made up almost three quarters of the inquiries.
1,500 to 6,000 euros in funding
The Federal Environment Ministry announced last week that private customers can again receive government funding when purchasing purely electric cars, plug-in hybrids and electric cars with range extenders. Depending on the type of vehicle and personal circumstances, it is between 1,500 and 6,000 euros. However, there are upper income limits up to which it is paid out – these are 80,000 euros household income per year, with two children 90,000 euros.