As they say: made the law, made the trap. The picaresque is not something exclusive to the Spanish, it is also common in other territories. In France, the government has been forced to modify the laws on the sale of second-hand vehicles with the intention of alleviating the high prices that some electric cars are reaching since many buyers are doing business thanks to state incentives. The new regulations make a quick sale difficult for those electricity companies that have benefited from commercial incentives.
The scarcity of cars throughout Europe and around the world is causing many buyers to opt for the second-hand market. The offer in alternative sales channels has skyrocketed. Even more so in the electricity market, where the shortage is almost greater. As in Spain, The French Government gives aid for the purchase of electric cars. With a game of up to 7,000 euros, the benefit can be considerable as long as it does not exceed 45,000 euros.
In recent months, the French government has realized that many electricity buyers were being dishonest with their attitudes. It has been discovered that many bought an electric car with significant discounts thanks to the state and they were quickly put up for sale as second-hand vehicles. Taking advantage of the boom and the shortage, the prices of some second-hand electric cars exceed the price of new models, generating a situation that the Government has had to tackle.
To prevent fraud, the new law requires to buyers benefiting from state aid schemes keep the car owned for at least a year and do at least 6,000 kilometers. Once both requirements are met, the car can be sold without any problem. Otherwise, the driver will have to fully repay the price of the state bonuses. In this way it is hoped to eliminate the current problem, regulating the market in a more natural way.
Several countries of the European Union have been forced to modify their regulations regarding incentives for the purchase of electric cars due to similar problems. The lack of vehicles, and the long delivery times are favoring the picaresque. Some models have delivery times of more than 8 months, while others accumulate continuous delays without certain expectations of when they will arrive.
