In a telephone briefing, the government confirmed the reduction in the amounts allocated to motorists as part of the ecological bonus. From now on, the aid will reach a maximum of €4,000, instead of €7,000, with a decreasing scale depending on income.
End of suspense… or almost. The government still does not say precisely when the decree responsible for modifying the ecological bonus will be published. He limits himself to indicating that it will be “in the coming days”. But he still agrees to confirm the new amounts of this assistance for the purchase of an electric vehicle. These amounts are consistent with what we announced to you from Monday November 25, 2024. While they could receive up to €7,000 until now, the most modest households will now have to make do with a maximum of €4,000. This amount corresponds to what the wealthiest households could previously receive. It will now be reserved for the first five deciles, i.e. the least fortunate 50% of French people. Those between the sixth and eighth decile will have to make do with €3,000, while the last two deciles will only be entitled to €2,000. We will have to wait for the publication of the decree to know these income brackets more precisely.
- First five income deciles: €4,000 bonus
- From the sixth to the eighth decile: €3,000 bonus
- Last two deciles: €2,000 bonus
A revised device for utilities
Even if no one will be excluded, including the rare fans of electrical retrofit, the bonus will therefore be less generous for everyone. It will even go so far as to disappear for light utility vehicles…at least sort of. The energy transition in this category with its fairly high CO2 emissions remains considered important by the government, which ensures that it is preparing a new specific system. It would take the form of the famous energy saving certificates, already used in other sectors such as real estate or energy. Which are also the subject of proceedings against TotalEnergies. Social leasing, which should wait until the second half of 2025 to return, will also use the same principle. This aid will now be clearly separated from the ecological bonus for private cars and will no longer draw from the same budget envelope. As for the conversion bonus, as had already been announced, it will be eliminated.
An abrupt end to the bonus already envisaged
This separation of expenses is important, because this envelope can no longer be exceeded, as was regularly the case until now. However, the State has only planned a maximum of 700 million euros for 2025, while it should have paid out no less than 1.5 billion in 2024. Fortunately, therefore, this sum almost halved will no longer include aid for light vehicles or social leasing, the success of which has far exceeded the most optimistic expectations. Because the government assures that it “will ensure strict compliance with the budget envelope that has been allocated”…even if it means suddenly turning off the taps during the year if necessary. However, he specifies that “the precise methods of controlling the end of this envelope are being defined and may be carried out through several mechanisms”. Still reserved for vehicles produced in Europe, with the exception of the Mazda MX-30, this new bonus has therefore not yet revealed all its secrets.
There is still time to take advantage of the old amounts
But it's better to hurry if you still want to benefit from the old scale: the government has confirmed that the decree setting the revised scales downwards would indeed take effect immediately. Only those who ordered before its entry into force will still benefit from the old amounts, subject to that their vehicle is invoiced or that the first rent for their long-term rental is paid within three months, i.e. before the end of February. Beware of extended delivery times, particularly for new products like the Renault 5, the Alpine A290 or the Citroën ë-C3: emphasize this point with your dealer and ask them to write down what they provides for delays, which could reduce the bonus.
Published on 11/28/2024 at 4:07 p.m.
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