Buyers of a Tesla Model S in Germany are forced to return the subsidies

21 July 2018

The electric Tesla Model S is recognized in Bundesrepublik too expensive

The German Federal service for economy and export control (BAFA) has recently demanded that owners of the Tesla Model S to return to the authorities a grant to buy a car in the amount of €4000.
It turns out that, according to BAFA, electric cars of this model deemed so expensive that the buyers had no right to claim the purchase on the financial assistance from the state in the form of so-called "environmental bonus," which in Germany has received about 800 Model S buyers who bought their electric vehicles until March 6. Why before that date? Quite a long and complicated history. So, Germany subsidizes the purchase of electric cars, but only if their base price not exceeding €60 000. The cost of the Tesla Model S, depending on configuration ranges from €92 550 thousand to €139 800.

The German government demanding the return of subsidies for the purchase is too expensive electric car Tesla Model S 

The subsidy program has been developed specifically for the increasing sales of electric vehicles and rechargeable hybrids with big enough battery. To receive subsidies under this programme, said in his message BAFA, had 250 customers, but now they came under sequestration.
In the company Tesla, the situation in Germany, announced that they are going to appeal against this decision. In addition, the press service said that until the problem is resolved, Tesla will compensate owners of electric vehicles the cost of the grant.
The company stressed: "As stated on our website, anyone in Germany could always order the basic version of the Model S, which was below the required level of prices and we deliver these cars to customers".
However, in November last year, BAFA has established that to buy electric car Tesla Model S for the same amount was supposedly impossible, and that was the reason for the refusal of subsidies. And yet, 6 March 2018 Tesla Inc. able to prove that German citizens can buy the Model S for €60 000, therefore, BAFA said that those who bought electric cars after this date, rely on subsidy may still, but the earlier buyers grant should return.
Even by March 2018 in BAFA came to a total of 54 274 applications for loans to buy electric cars. While subsidies for the purchase of electric cars from €1.2 billion was spent just €194 million.

So unfavourable attitude of the German authorities to the Tesla brand is seen not too justified, because in every electric car Model S has quite a lot of German components