“I am convinced of the quality of European and German brands,” Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said at a press conference on Monday. “I cannot see any evidence of this postulated major influx of Chinese car manufacturers in Germany, either in the figures or on the roads — and that is why we are facing up to the competition and not imposing any restrictions.”
(Jan 19): Germany’s €3 billion subsidy programme for electric vehicles (EVs) will be open to all manufacturers, including Chinese brands, as the government seeks to revive sales in Europe’s largest car market.
The incentive, unveiled on Monday, is part of a renewed push to boost electric-car adoption and support the struggling auto industry after demand slumped when subsidies ended in late 2023. While the government aims to support local carmakers, it will not impose origin-based restrictions.
