06 Dec 2007 03:12:50
France incentivises green car purchases
The French government has unveiled a set of plans which will impose more tax on gas-guzzling cars and offer bonuses for greener vehicles.
From January 1st, all drivers in France who buy a new car emitting more than 160g of carbon dioxide per kilometre will be charged a one-off penalty of up to 2,600 (£1,870).
These fines will be tiered and start at 200 (£143) and the top fine will only apply to vehicles which produce more than 250 grams of carbon dioxide - less than one per cent of all cars.
What's more, the plans include the idea of rewarding consumers who opt for greener motors. Buyers of more environmentally-friendly cars will receive a bonus of up to 1,000 (£719) and can earn extra cash if they scrap their old polluting vehicle at the same time.
Anyone who purchases the greenest cars on the market - which produce less 60 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre - will be able to claim a special bonus of 5,000 (£3,596).
According to the Times newspaper, ecology minister Jean-Louis Borloo said: "We are the first Western country to give a bonus to virtuous products."
