“They’re not up to par”

After two-and-a-half years at the helm of the Spanish car manufacturers’ association, Wayne Griffiths yesterday resigned as president “with immediate effect and irrevocably”. His discomfort, which does not come now, relates to promiseshow the government failed to implement measures to promote electrification in Spain. Although these are not the only shortcomings that can be pointed out. We talk about them in detail below.

Improved Move Plan III

This purchase assistance program, which only subsidizes 100% electric and hybrid vehicles, has two main obstacles. On the one hand, assistance (up to 7,000 euros per car) They are not accrued immediately, but after several months and even up to two years. depending on how flexible the CCAA the vehicle is purchased from is, since they are the ones driving it. Moreover, this money must then be declared in personal income tax as a capital gain and we will be charged at least 19%. At the very least, the sector demands that fundraising be direct.

There was a plan extended until July 31 this year and at the moment it is unknown what will happen. Government promises, most recently made by Pedro Sánchez himself in February, that it would be “changed in a few weeks” have also not been fulfilled.

Since last year, To this assistance must be added a 15% tax break for individuals. who purchase an electrified car, with a limit of 3,000 euros. But this measure does not apply to company fleets

Tax assistance for companies

In our country, Approximately 60% of connected car purchases are made by companies. They may benefit from Moves, but the sector has been demanding a more favorable tax regime for some time. In fact, this is one of their oldest requirements. In this sense, the example of Portugal is given, where Companies and professionals can deduct up to 100% VAT. in the purchase of a car and in the electricity with which it is charged.

Charging network

Ended in 2023 in Spain 29,301 public charging points, according to Anfac, this is far from the 45,000 with which we should have ended the year. And almost 11,200 more have been installed. In addition, others 7728 people were out of action, either because they are in poor condition, damaged, or have not yet been able to be connected to the electrical distribution network. Finally, in addition to quantity, we must also talk about quality. From this amount 80% have a power of 22 kW or less. That is, they are very slow, as it takes them at least an hour to travel another 100 km on the highway.

Launched some time ago system for monitoring the location of these posts and his status. We continue to wait. In addition, we should improve their compatibility: that is, there is no need to download multiple applications to use them and pay. Finally, no one seems to want to call the cat, which is a bureaucratic tangle that over time prolongs, if not paralyzes, its installation.

Stagnating electricity market

If plug-in models are still expensive; the help system is discouraging; The charging network doesn’t inspire the confidence we need, and with companies not being as active as in previous years, we’re about to face a storm in the market when it comes to purchasing new cars. In May, total passenger vehicle sales reached 95,158 units, up 3.8% pure electric and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) decreased by 11.9%, in just 9180 operations. It did the part the pie they represent is only 10.4% this year is four tenths less than in 2023. In Europe this percentage 19.2%… and 28.2% in Portugal. Around 45,000 units were sold until May. when the goal will be to reach 280,000 within a year.

very old park

Manufacturers and sellers, especially the first ones, The idea of ​​restoring technology-neutral assistance programs for fleet renewal has long been abandoned. That is, they offer you to get rid of a very old car, buying instead a new, much less polluting diesel, gasoline, gas or hybrid. Wherever applicable, the money flies. Meanwhile, since the market is very far from what it was a decade or more ago, and used ones are also very expensive, people put up with their old junk. Today The average age of passenger cars in circulation in Spain is 14.2 years, with four out of 10 over 20 years old. Its safety and efficiency are far from modern cars.

Creation of an electromobility hub

This is probably the phrase government officials have repeated most often in recent years regarding their project for the Spanish automobile industry. Wayne Griffiths made it clear yesterday that we are far from that. “For months I have been insisting, publicly and privately, on the need for public-private cooperation to make Spain the center of electromobility in Europe. But the commitment of political representatives is not at the level of our country. the second automaker in Europe and the eighth in the world.