A fifth of Germans would buy an electric car, one third a conventional model – survey

Twenty-one percent of Germans would opt for an electric model when buying a new car after the German government has announced it will double the existing buyer's premium for electric vehicles as part of its economic stimulus programme in response to the coronavirus crisis. This was the result of a survey conducted by the market research institute Appinio, writes Focus Online. Thirty-five percent of respondents, however, said they would buy a diesel or petrol car despite the premium.
Government coalition member Social Democrats (SPD) insisted that the buyer's premium should not include combustion engine cars. Now, a draft law presented by finance minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) and seen by the German editorial network RND plans to raise the motor vehicle tax for high horsepower cars with combustion engines. Germany's popular SUVs would be especially affected.

Germany’s coalition government last week agreed on an economic stimulus package that, among other measures, aims to boost sales of electric cars and plug-in hybrids with an “innovation bonus.” The premium doubles existing government grants.