Published: Less than 10 min ago
The sudden scrapping of the climate bonus led to a record buying rush for electric cars.
But whether everyone who bought an electric car during Tuesday will get a share of the money is unclear, according to Mobility Sweden.
– We are worried about that, says Emmi Antonsson, communications manager at the trade association.
The government’s announcement to scrap the climate bonus already today, Wednesday, led to a shopping spree and record sales at car dealers around the country.
Several of them testify to about a month’s worth of sales on Tuesday, when buyers wanted to make sure they could take part in the 50,000 kroner that the bonus means.
But they cannot be completely sure. This is the opinion of the Swedish automotive industry trade association Mobility Sweden, which thinks there are question marks after the government’s announcement.
In the government’s autumn budget, six billion kroner is set aside for a climate bonus in 2023. All the electric and hybrid cars that were ordered or bought by Tuesday must be able to take part in that money. In addition to the electric car owners who can apply for the bonus from the turn of the year.
– The six billion is set aside for 2023. But today the delivery times are up to 1.5 years for a new electric car, then it may take until 2024 before they can apply for a climate bonus. There is no money set aside for that, says Emmi Antonsson, head of communications.
“Will be angry”
Even if delivery times are shortened to a year, those who bought a car on Tuesday will still be in 2024, as the car must have been in traffic for six months before the bonus can be applied for.
– The government might add money then, but we don’t know that now, says Emmi Antonsson.
– The government has removed the bonus at short notice, now it must be guaranteed that all those who bought a car last Tuesday will receive money regardless of how long it takes before they get their car. Otherwise, many will be quite upset.
She says that they expected, and themselves want to see, a change in the bonus, but not that it would be abolished completely. M, KD and L told the organization before the election that they wanted to keep the bonus, but adjust it. Only SD wanted to remove it completely, according to Emmi Antonsson.
She is also critical of the fact that the announcement came without warning.
– We think it is reasonable to prioritize in tough times and to review the system. But it is done at short notice and without talking to us, we are called by car dealers with questions we don’t have answers to. This has created chaos in the market.
Can’t promise anything
The Swedish Transport Agency has received many questions about the bonus since Monday. But at the moment, the authority does not have many answers to give.
– We knew nothing before the press release went out on Monday evening, says Jonny Geidne, strategist in the vehicle information department.
At present, it is unclear exactly how the assessments for electric car purchases should be made with the new rules. No instructions have yet come from the government.
– You must be able to show documentation that it was ordered, but we are still unsure of what it will look like, says Jonny Geidne.
The authority received three billion for the climate bonus for 2022, but has requested additional funding. In total, they have received 7.4 billion to cover the cost of the bonus.
According to Jonny Geidne, whether six billion will be enough or whether the government will push for more money if they run out is difficult to answer.
Can you count on getting a bonus for your car if you bought it last Tuesday?
– Purely crass, you can’t do it. But historically we have always received more funding when we asked for it. I find it unlikely that the government would not do it now too, he says.
The Minister of Finance: Enormously costly
Aftonbladet has applied to the climate minister via its press secretary.
Elisabeth Svantesson, Minister of Finance, defended the abolition of the bonus when she presented the budget on Tuesday.
– On the one hand, it has become enormously costly. For each budget, more money is pushed for it. It costs three billion this year, she said.
The fact that an increasingly large part of the vehicle fleet consists of electric cars also means that it is possible to remove the bonus. When there are tough economic times at the same time, you have to make other priorities, Svantesson said.
– We know that the conversion is going well and we are moving towards replacing the vehicle fleet and then we think that it is fine to do this.