Overview
- The federal subsidy portal foerderzentrale.gov.de went live in mid‑May and the Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle reported an immediate surge of applications that dealers say has already boosted daily new‑EV sales.
- Households must apply with a BundID for privately registered new cars and can claim retroactively for vehicles first registered on or after January 1, 2026.
- The grant is income‑tiered with typical payments of about €3,000 to €6,000 depending on taxable household income and number of children, while plug‑in hybrids receive smaller sums.
- Analysts and dealers warn the new‑car‑only design and a required 36‑month ownership period risk depressing the market for young used EVs and favouring low‑cost imports from Korea and China.
- Owners interviewed by reporters report shorter real‑world range, steep range loss at high speeds and long waits at public chargers, which could limit the subsidy’s immediate climate and mobility benefits.