France wants to promote the purchase of sustainable cars

In France, too, the auto industry is facing historical challenges due to the corona pandemic. The government now wants to use the crisis as a lever - for more sustainability.

Paris (dpa) - The French government wants to promote the purchase of sustainable cars as part of the economic recovery after the Corona crisis.

The crisis must be made a lever to accelerate an ecological transition and to encourage the French to buy vehicles that are still too expensive for them today, Economics Minister Bruno Le Maire told Franceinfo radio on Monday. He announced that the French government would present a plan to support the automotive industry within the next 15 days. The switch to more sustainable models needs to be boosted, said Le Maire.

He also announced support for the aviation sector. Before July 1, a plan will be presented to help the industry with "hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Toulouse region and elsewhere". The aerospace and defense group Airbus has its control center in Toulouse, southwestern France. The group has slipped into the red due to the Corona crisis.

France had already announced public aid to the auto industry. The manufacturer Renault should therefore be supported with a guarantee for loans of up to five billion euros. According to the French government, automakers should bring production back to the country in return for public aid, as Le Maire emphasized last week.

Interview at Franceinfo