The vehicle weight tax has been a controversial topic of discussion in France since 2019. After several advances (by the Ministry of the Environment) and setbacks (by the Ministry of Economy), the measure seems to go even further, says the newspaper French Les Echos.
The new vehicle weight tax is expected to take effect as early as 2021 and implies an increase of €10/kg for (almost) all vehicles — a rate with a maximum ceiling of €10,000 — that charge more than a weighbridge 1800 kg.
The initial proposal was more severe, in which the Ministry of the Environment, currently topped by Barbara Pompili, proposed to tax all vehicles from 1400 kg.
A value that was considered too low and that would (also) seriously affect the French car manufacturers. Even so, the progressive tightening of the measure is expected, pointing to the lowering of the limit to 1650 kg as of 2022.
Subscribe to our newsletter
But there are exceptions. Electric vehicles — the kings of automobile obesity — will be exempt from this tax and specific measures are being defined for hybrid vehicles, which are, as a rule, also heavier (especially plug-ins). Families with three or more children, who need larger vehicles, therefore heavier, are also being considered with specific measures.
France is one of the biggest European car markets and the car industry sees this measure (with promises of becoming more demanding, as we have already mentioned) with apprehension.
Unsurprisingly, the year 2020 is proving to be, due to the pandemic, extremely challenging for the automobile industry as well, at the same time as it is faced with meeting the demanding targets for reducing CO2 emissions.