The deputy head of the SPD parliamentary group, Detlef Müller, told the Handelsblatt: “I don’t believe in the fact that a new component for artificially increasing the price of combustion vehicles is being brought into play with a CO2-dependent climate tax for new car registrations.” Rather, fundamental points of the coalition agreement on how to advance the expansion of charging stations more quickly.
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr told the Handelsblatt: “I don’t think Robert Habeck’s plans are expedient. In view of the rising prices, the burdens are already high enough. In times of inflation, the state must not artificially inflate prices.”
The Handelsblatt reported on Tuesday about a strategy paper from the Federal Ministry of Economics, according to which the idea of introducing “a CO2-dependent climate tax for new car registrations in combination with a continuation of the e-car premium” was circulating in the house of Robert Habeck (Greens).
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This could “ultimately make e-cars cheaper than the respective combustion cars”. The paper mentions the electric car models ID.3 and ID.4 from Volkswagen as an example, which should be cheaper than the Golf.
The FDP politician Dürr objected that many people are dependent on combustion cars because there are no charging stations. Especially in rural areas, many commuters have no way of charging an electric car at all.
“Instead of punishing people for using a combustion engine, we should ensure that these cars can be climate-neutral in the future,” Dürr demanded.
FDP advocates the use of synthetic fuels
The government must therefore finally allow synthetic fuels that can be produced in a climate-neutral manner. “It is therefore also very correct that Volker Wissing included these e-fuels in his immediate climate protection program,” Dürr continued.
It is not surprising that the idea was not well received by the FDP. FDP party leader Christian Lindner recently suggested abolishing subsidies for electric cars. From the point of view of the FDP, a levy on new combustion cars makes just as little sense.
The mobility expert from the Federation of Consumer Organizations (VZBV), Marion Jungbluth, sees things differently. “A CO2-dependent climate tax for new car registrations can be a sensible incentive to buy small and efficient vehicles,” she told the Handelsblatt. “The steering effect is evident in the neighboring countries where such a vehicle registration tax is already levied.”
A bonus-malus system has been discussed for some time in the green-led Federal Ministry of Economics. However, Minister Habeck’s house had recently moved away from this and had set its sights on a reform of the motor vehicle tax.
Most recently, the debate about the future of cars with combustion engines in the traffic lights had repeatedly caused discussions.
It was initially unclear whether Germany would agree to a possible end for new combustion cars in the EU from 2035 – or whether it would abstain. In the end, after some back and forth, the federal government agreed to approve a proposal from the EU Council.
The FDP asserted that after 2035 vehicles could be registered that would then be operated “exclusively” with climate-neutral fuels (e-fuels). According to the common understanding of the federal government, this also applies to passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
Habeck is considering higher taxes on company cars with internal combustion engines
According to the strategy paper, in addition to a climate tax, Habeck is also considering “an increase in company car taxation for fossil fuel burners by” increasing the price of the monetary benefit for pure burners”.
SPD politician Müller was open to this idea, albeit with one caveat. “The taxation of company cars can certainly be discussed in principle, but that is independent of the respective type of drive,” he said.
VZBV expert Jungbluth said: “Higher taxes for gas guzzlers should be used to provide tax relief for economical cars.” Taking account of revenue neutrality, particularly economical vehicles could also receive a bonus.
“But new taxes or duties should not primarily be used to finance the purchase premium for electric cars,” she added. Because the incentive to buy must expire soon.
Company car taxation has been controversial for years. Last week, the federal government presented an immediate climate protection program because it had missed its climate targets, especially in the transport sector. A reform of the company car privilege was not part of the program.
More: Wissing versus Lemke – new argument about the combustion engine off