Over the next few years the German government will be investing massively in making electric mobility more attractive and getting more electric vehicles on the roads, stressed Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to Volkswagen’s plant in Zwickau. A record sum of 3.5 billion euros is to be spent on developing the available public charging infrastructure. 50,000 charging stations for electric vehicles are to be made available very swiftly to ensure reliability.

Important mass production

"Mobility as we have practiced it to date produces excessive CO2 emissions," underscored Chancellor Angela Merkel. This makes it important to ensure the mass production of electric vehicles. Volkswagen is a trailblazer in terms of investing in electric mobility and alternative engine technology, said the Chancellor.

Europe’s largest electric vehicle production plant

As of 2021, up to 330,000 electric cars are to be produced every year in Zwickau, making it Europe’s largest and most efficient production plant for electric vehicles. Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said, "The future of mobility is electric, and the future is starting in Zwickau."

Purchase price rebate scheme extended

The rebate on the purchase price of electric vehicles, also known as the environmental bonus, which is part of the climate action package, has already proved its worth, said the Chancellor. The government has thus decided to extend the scheme until the end of 2020. As of 2021 it plans to raise the figure for smaller vehicles, such as the new Volkswagen ID.3.

The purchase price rebate or environmental bonus is currently 4,000 euros for purely electric cars and 3,000 euros for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The German government and industry each shoulder 50 per cent of the costs. The scheme is operated by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control, known by its German acronym Bafa. Purchasers of electric or hybrid vehicles can use the Bafa website to apply for a rebate online.

Climate action, technological developments, digitalisation and networking are bringing huge changes for automobile manufacturers and their customers around the world. The transformation we are currently seeing in mobility is fundamental, and it can be seen not only in Germany and Europe, but also on the world’s other markets. "We will be best able to master this change if we have free, rules-based trade," underscored the Chancellor. The German government will continue to work for this.

Top-level talks at the Federal Chancellery

On Monday evening, the Chancellor is hosting a top-level meeting on concerted action on mobility at the Federal Chancellery to again discuss the future of Germany as a centre of the automobile industry. The aim is to consult with representatives of the automobile industry and other experts in order to identify the measures needed to strengthen Germany as a centre of production and innovation.