21:41 26-01-2026

Plan Auto+ subsidy program stalled over carbon footprint criteria

The launch of the new state program Plan Auto+ has been delayed. The Ministry of Economy has demanded the inclusion of carbon footprint calculations in the conditions—a criterion that will practically exclude Chinese electric vehicles from the list of supported models. This has called the entire subsidy mechanism into question.

Inter-agency conflict halts program publication

The Ministry of Industry had already agreed on the Plan Auto+ conditions with associations of automakers and dealers. In this version, subsidies increased for models produced in the EU but did not exclude other vehicles.

The economic ministry intervened at the last minute and blocked the publication of the rule base, pushing for the implementation of the French Eco Score scheme. Now the program is stalled, leaving the market in uncertainty.

How carbon footprint reshapes the balance of power

The methodology promoted by the Ministry of Economy allows subsidies for 80–90% of models produced in Europe and some vehicles from Turkey. However, Chinese electric cars are almost entirely eliminated from the program, as transportation, production processes, and materials result in too high a carbon footprint.

Even some models produced in Morocco are at risk. In practice, this creates an import barrier under the guise of a climate criterion.

Risk of retaliatory measures from China

The attempt to restrict Chinese electric vehicles could lead to diplomatic and economic consequences. China has already imposed countermeasures against countries that supported European tariffs. After previous EU decisions, the Stellantis plant in Tychy, Poland, lost production of Leapmotor models. Meanwhile, in Spain, companies like CATL, Chery, and Leapmotor are actively investing—and tightening rules could jeopardize these projects.

What changes for buyers

Despite the pause, the plan retains a budget of €400 million and applies retroactively from January 1. The main difference from MOVES III is a fully centralized system that will reduce payment waiting times from a year and a half to about one month.

However, the program removes the bonus for scrapping an old vehicle and does not include support for home chargers. Plug-in hybrids will receive smaller payments than pure electric vehicles. Manufacturers are insisting on the swift publication of rules to avoid a sales downturn.