Clément Beaune “not closed” to the idea of ​​extending the weight penalty to electric and hybrid vehicles

2023-06-19 16:15:17

The weight penalty, which today applies to thermal vehicles that weigh 1,800 kg or more, could well be extended to electric and hybrid vehicles. This was announced on Monday morning by the Minister of Transport Clément Beaune, guest of the morning of Europe 1.

“The weight threshold will be lowered on thermal vehicles (…) concerning electric and hybrid vehicles, it will be necessary to gradually tighten the criteria”, announces @CBeaune about a possible tax on the weight of electric vehicles #Europe1 pic.twitter.com/zUQbLI46Wv

— Europe 1 (@Europe1) June 19, 2023

To do this, Clément Beaune assures that he intends to proceed “in stages”. “There is an automobile penalty which has a weight threshold…) only on thermal cars. This weight threshold is very high today, which means that there are many very heavy and therefore very fuel-efficient vehicles that are not subject to the penalty, ”recalls the Minister of Transport first. Today, this tax applies to vehicles weighing at least 1800 kg. Once this threshold is exceeded, the tax is set at 10 euros per additional kg.

“We will have to gradually tighten the criteria”

“We are going to lower the threshold in the finance bill for 2024 on the heaviest thermal vehicles”, thus assured Clément Beaune at the microphone of Europe 1. He did not, however, give any precise figures on the new threshold. coming.

But that’s not all. This weight penalty could well be extended to other types of vehicles, according to the Minister. “There is a debate to know if we bring into this penalty electric vehicles which would be heavy, or hybrid vehicles…) I am not closed to the idea”, affirms Clément Beaune. “Between electric vehicles, there are some that are more or less ecological in their production methods, so we will have to gradually tighten the criteria (of the penalty, editor’s note)”, he announced.

This extension of the tax could take place “from next year or the following year”, according to the Minister of Transport. What discourage consumers who tend to invest in less polluting vehicles? “The electric market will make it possible to produce more accessible, lighter vehicles”, assures Clément Beaune to sweep away all concerns.