The Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden, like to surround themselves with the aura of social progress; Politicians and the media in other countries regard developments that start there as forward-looking. This also applies to mobility issues. Sweden is “a step ahead” when it comes to electric mobility, it says, and the “rapid growth” is praised. Electric cars have caught on so quickly in the country that the corresponding subsidies are now being canceled without replacement. The “climate bonus” previously granted to buyers of plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles can no longer be accessed for models ordered following November 8th.
And for good reasons: “Today, climate bonus cars make up around half of new car sales and are available in most price ranges,” the Swedish government reports, adding: “Also the purchase and driving costs of a climate bonus car are now comparable to the purchase and driving costs of a petrol or diesel car.” Premiums are therefore no longer justified.
Will the Swedes also become a pioneer with this decision? In any case, other EU countries are likely to note the taxpayer-friendly new regulations in Sweden with interest – especially since the EU Commission has decided to phase out combustion engine technology by 2035 anyway, meaning that no further measures are required to establish the technology. Of course, the ambitious plan is to be reviewed once more in 2026 – on the basis of a demanding catalog of targets that are currently being defined by Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton. (Jens Meiers/cen)