Thursday May 11, 2023, Emmanuel Macron unveiled his ambitions for the green industry. By presenting a bill on May 16 in the Council of Ministers, the President intends to reindustrialize France “the mother of all battles”. Among the measures announced, the reform of the ecological bonus should take place by the end of the year and upset our habits.
Today, the ecological bonus is capped at €5,000 – up to €7,000 for low-income households – for the purchase of an electric car under €47,000 and 2.4 t. Any car that meets these criteria is eligible for state aid regardless of battery size, origin or ecological impact.
A virtuous measure for the environment
The MG4 may no longer benefit from the ecological bonus. © The Digital
If the president did not mention the amount of this aid, it is clear that the State plans to review the allocation criteria according to the vehicles in order to take into account the carbon footprint of the manufacture of the vehicle, the battery to its engine.
The measures will thus be oriented to promote “vehicles produced in Europe [car] their carbon footprint is good”, said Emmanuel Macron. The Ministry of Economy adds the use of biobased or recycled materials in manufacturing. However, we do not know if the new bonus will make a distinction according to the size of the battery and the vehicle, always with the aim of favoring the lowest carbon impact.
Protectionism that does not say its name
The Peugeot e-208 is one of the best-selling French electric cars. © Peugeot
Argument swept aside by Emmanuel Macron, this reform of the ecological bonus nevertheless seems to be European protectionism against China, which is dominant in the industry. As proof, the argument put forward by the tenant of the Élysée, who says he does not want “using French taxpayers’ money to accelerate non-European industrialization”.
The balance will however be difficult to find and certain counter-productive effects are to be feared. If cars openly produced in China, such as the MG4, risk no longer benefiting from purchase aid, other French models could be affected. The Dacia Spring, bestseller electric of the Renault subsidiary, is produced in China, while the Tesla come out of Chinese factories, but also German. French brands must therefore catch up, because they are more expensive and not necessarily as efficient as the competition.