What is this? What is it?
The government has announced that a new tax will be applied to new vehicles purchased. What to ask multiple questions. Indeed, the purchase of a new car represents a very significant cost. And it is legitimate to be concerned about the impact on the price of cars of such a measure. Especially since the automobile market is severely impacted by the current health crisis, especially the new car sector.
Why this tax? This penalty on the weight of cars responds to an environmental emergency. The citizens' climate convention, which met throughout 2020, recalled that we could no longer wait to take action to save our planet. And she offered multiple avenues for improvement. The automotive industry is affected by these recommendations. The idea put in place is to penalize vehicles that are too heavy and therefore more polluting. A victory for those who felt that taking into account only CO2 emissions was not enough.
It is also and above all about meeting European requirements in terms of pollution from transport. Indeed, transport is responsible for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. And these emissions have stagnated or even increased, which is contrary to the various signed protocols.
This measure, voted definitively on December 14, 2020, will not be effective until January 1, 2022. The reason for this latency period ? Leave a certain period of adaptation for manufacturers, so that they can take the new standards into account for their cars and other vehicles.
Which vehicles are really affected?
But who does this apply exactly? Because not everyone is affected, and not all vehicles will suffer from this tax. So concretely which cars are impacted? These are autos over 1,800 kilograms. For information, a Twingo weighs a ton. The first category of vehicles that will therefore undergo this measure are SUVs. And French manufacturers are hardly bothered. It is for the German and American brands that this will be felt. However, this is not about heightened chauvinism, but about environmental concerns. Indeed, French cars are on average lighter than cars from across the Rhine and Uncle Sam's country.
And how much will this tax be exactly? This penalty will be € 10 per additional kilogram. In fact, it rises very quickly, even if we do not necessarily realize it. For example, Tesla's famous SUV, the Cybertruck, weighs between 3.8 and 4.5 tonnes depending on the options and accessories chosen. Tesla offers to complete and enhance your vehicle in a very personalized way, taking into account your needs and desires. We are therefore talking about an increase of between € 20,000 and € 27,000. This is not negligible when we know that the base price of Elon Musk's jewel is € 39,900 without any options. We are talking about more than a third of the price, which is more than significant.
Find a used Tesla car
The exceptions
But like any rule, this one has many exceptions. Depending on your status, this tax may be lowered. companies are affected to a lesser extent by this penalty. Freight transport should not be affected as much as possible, or at a minimum.
A drop may also be requested by large families. 200 euros will be deducted per dependent child. For adult or emancipated children, consider providing a justification such as the family record book.
What about non-thermal vehicles? Indeed, the latest bonuses go in favor of hybrid, hydrogen or electric cars. We can take as an example the old scrapping bonus which became the conversion bonus. The latter allows a discount on the price of vehicles whose energy is considered clean.
Some conditions however. Hybrid vehicles not affected by this tax must be able to travel more than 50 kilometers using only their electric power. The idea is to make daily trips using clean energy and thus have less CO2 emissions. We remain in a dynamic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, this would finally make it possible to achieve the objectives set by the European authorities.
In France, hydrogen-powered cars and 100% electric cars are not at all affected by this tax. Note, however, that this is not the case in all European states. For example, Norway imposes a similar penalty on electric vehicles over 2000 kg.
A controversial tax
However, this tax is far from unanimous. Ineffective, demagogic, illusory. The adjectives are numerous and rarely flattering if not never.
Besides the negative comments that are raining down, this was seen during the vote by the various state institutions. We are talking about a penalty requested by a citizens' convention, that is to say voluntary persons drawn by lot. This first went to the National Assembly, which passed this measure. The Senate then rejected it barely a month later. Forty-eight hours later, this tax was again relevant. It is therefore by the government itself that it is challenged in the first place, whereas in the end it only concerns very few vehicles, and even fewer cars from French manufacturers.
The ecological commitments protest. For them, this tax is only here as a matter of principle. Too few cars will be affected by this significant penalty. Pierre Cannet, Head of Climate, Energy and Sustainable Cities Programs at WWF France, believes that “The principle is the right one” but still remains very “symbolic”. It seems to put a solution in place, but it is not going to change drastically and it will be far from solving or diminishing the important problem facing the planet. The political opposition supports these claims and stands against this measure. Socialist deputy Valérie Rabault spoke on the subject: "Of the 10 best-selling SUVs in 2019, there is none except one that weighs over 1,800 kilos so we don't touch anyone. You are doing the communication "
The Minister for Ecological Transition did not fail to react to these comments which are undoubtedly against her project. It’s not much, but still better than nothing. All the more so when we see that worldwide the sale of increasingly large SUVs is increasing drastically. In 2018, one in three new vehicles sold was an SUV. For the Minister, this decision is made taking into account the needs and shortcomings of the industry concerned. "The automotive industry is reinventing itself", all the more so in this troubled period of the health crisis, it must be given time to adapt and find its account.
For others, however, attack this so-called sector. Particularly upset by the Covid-19 epidemic, the latter is already in bad shape and it is wanting to kill her to impose new taxes. All the more so since the penalty on CO2 emissions comes into force in January. Many repressions in a short period of time, these are hard blows for car manufacturers.
The alternatives
But if this tax is implemented, it is also because Other solutions have been planned by the various authorities. First of all, if some cars see their prices increase considerably, the reverse is also true. We can take one of the key decisions for the period 2019-2020 as an example. This is of course the conversion bonus. In addition, the latter is prolonged because of the health crisis. And the quotas increased as well. Small flat, however. Cars bearing the Crit'air 2 stamp are no longer eligible for this ecological bonus.If the penalty may be temporarily harmful to this secondary sector industry that is the automobile, this will push brands to reinvent themselves to become more efficient and competitive. which will ultimately be beneficial for companies and this market in general. Indeed, this benefit will rissole on used cars.
Finally, it can allow you to reorient yourself towards cars which may be more suited to your needs. Is it really useful to have a 4 × 4 in a city? Maybe a station wagon or a city car like the Renault Zoe would work better.
Find a used Renault Zoe car
This tax is therefore part of a process to protect the environment. It only concerns vehicles over 1,800 kg, and imposes a penalty of 10 euros per additional kilogram. In the end, this affects relatively few cars. This is one of the reasons that this measure is very controversial. Why put a tax on almost no car? In addition, it affects a market and an industry already in bad shape because of the health crisis.If this tax is negative, other measures put in place such as the conversion bonus are in favor of the automotive sector which is undergoing transformation. and reinvent itself. Note that if the vote took place in 2020, it will not be in 2021 but in 2022 that it will be effective.
CapCar servicesCapCar is an intermediary that connects sellers and used car buyers. CapCar offers vehicles that meet European standards and that are eligible for various premiums. Find your perfect car with CapCar.
Buy my car at the best price
