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Should the tax benefits for e-cars already fall in 2024? The environmental parties do not agree on the marching pace.
Jürg Grossen is the country’s top electric car lobbyist. The President of the Green Liberals heads the industry association “Swiss E-Mobility”. He thinks it is wrong to put additional strain on electric cars: “That worries me. We are way behind when it comes to the Paris climate targets, especially in the transport sector.”
But the Federal Council also wants an import tax on electric cars. It would make common electric cars around 2,000 francs more expensive. In addition, several cantons are discussing changes to the annual motor vehicle tax: they want to reduce or eliminate discounts for electric cars.
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GLP President Jürg Grossen is going too fast with the planned import tax on e-cars.
Keystone/Georgios Kefalas
All of this would have consequences, because Switzerland would be left behind by other countries, warns Grossen: “Especially in the middle and lower segment, how expensive the vehicle is is absolutely decisive. This will then also influence the purchase decision. It’s a signal, and that signal is absolutely bad.”
In the middle and lower segment, it is absolutely crucial how expensive the vehicle is.
Greens against further incentives
A green disagrees. Natalie Imboden is a member of the National Council and sits on the board of the environmental association VCS, the Swiss traffic club. She wants to abolish discounts and subsidies for electric cars: “Basically, we don’t want private transport to be further expanded. There shouldn’t be any incentives, so further subsidies don’t make sense here.”
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Natalie Imboden: Do everything we can to prevent the further expansion of private transport.
Keystone/Alessandro Della Valle
Rather, what is needed are stricter climate regulations or an ecological tax system, but not tax rebates on cars, says Imboden. Because a lot of the “taxes on cars” flow directly into the maintenance and expansion of the roads: “E-car drivers should also make a contribution to this because they also use roads. At the same time, you can see that e-cars are now more economical than fossil-fuel cars if you also take maintenance into account.”
E-car drivers should make a contribution because they also use roads.
That’s true, says Grossen, in the future the discounts must end: “We have nothing against that, it’s just a question of timing.” Sales of electric cars have stagnated in recent months. That’s why incentives are needed.