The economic stimulus program of the federal and state governments also provides for a car purchase premium - but only for vehicles with an electric motor. The SPD reaps criticism from industry, Markus Söder is praised.
- The federal government's rescue package is in place: a car purchase premium for combustion engines is not included.
- Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer puts pressure on manufacturers when it comes to electromobility .
- The IG Metall shoots sharply against the SPD - warm words there are for Markus Söder .
Berlin - For many people, the news is surprising that, as part of the Corona rescue package by the federal government *, no car purchase premium is being used for vehicles with a combustion engine. Until recently, the car manufacturers, with the help of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), had fought to ensure that a new “ scrappage bonus ” would not only be used in favor of electric cars.
However, the measures of the Corona economic stimulus program * include precisely this: the turnaround in the climate and climate protection are very important and the German auto industry is quasi forced to step on the gas when it comes to alternative drive technologies . As the centerpiece of German industry, the industry will have to push even further away from internal combustion engines .
No corona “scrappage bonus” for combustion engines: Scheuer puts pressure on the automotive industry
Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer immediately calls on Germany's auto companies to speed up electromobility: "mass-effective" products with alternative drives should be on the road, said the Union politician in Berlin. The lowering of VAT, decided by the coalition leaders, is a “real offer” to the industry. In addition, according to Scheuer, the economic stimulus package provides further incentives to promote the renewal of vehicle fleets and cited the craft sector as an example. There should also be a boost when expanding the charging network for electric cars .
The coalition leaders had agreed in the 57-point plan to increase purchase premiums for electric cars - but there are no premiums vehemently demanded by the automotive industry when buying new cars with combustion engines. Above all, the SPD leadership was against it, but originally Scheuer himself had also campaigned for a “scrappage bonus” for combustion engines.
So it is now mainly the SPD that is exposed to criticism from trade unions : The IG Metall chief says of the attitude of the Social Democrats: "The rigorous refusal to support the hundreds of thousands of employees who are worried about their jobs today with statements "No cent for gasoline and diesel" leads to a massive loss of confidence among employees in the auto industry and related sectors in relation to social democracy ", Jörg Hoffmann says in an interview with Augsburger Allgemeine.
Even traditional German companies such as MAN and Volkswagen are not exactly satisfied with the economic stimulus program presented and are expressing criticism of the SPD party leadership.
Corona economic stimulus package: IG Metall boss praises Söder's “Trojan horse”
However, Germans' desire to buy will also be stimulated in such a way that a reduced VAT will apply from July 1st - until the end of 2020. If passed on to customers, this should also have a supporting effect when buying a car , albeit in a weakened form.
Markus Söder visiting the Audi factory: As one of three prime ministers, Bayer is also campaigning for a scrappage bonus for combustion engines.
© dpa / -
IG-Metall boss Hoffmann has special praise for Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder : “Söder and his Prime Minister colleagues in Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony have made correct demands in the run-up to the negotiations for an economic stimulus package. Nobody can now deny Mr. Söder that he was successful in the negotiations and smuggled in the VAT increase as a kind of Trojan horse and thus enforced a disguised car premium for combustion engines. "
According to the consulting firm KMPG , the car market worldwide is facing a massive upheaval not only because of Corona * : "The traditional world market for cars is in the process of dissolution, and Covid-19 will accelerate this development," according to the forecast by car expert Dieter Becker, who also believes: "The availability of raw materials will increasingly influence the industrial policy of the individual countries and the technology agenda of the manufacturers."
PF with AFP
* Merkur.de is an offer from the nationwide Ippen Digital editors network
Rubric list picture: © dpa / -
