Auto industry outraged by Swiss politics: punitive tariffs and no support for charging stations

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There has once again been great anger in the automotive industry due to the actions of Swiss politicians. The reason: Parliament constantly calls for more electric vehicles on Swiss roads to meet agreed climate targets, but does not create any incentives for this. “On the contrary, the framework conditions for the transition to electric vehicles are getting worse instead of improving,” criticizes Peter Grünenfelder (55), who has been President of the Swiss Automobile Importers Association since the beginning of August.

Albert Rösti, successor to the former president of Auto Switzerland and elected to the Federal Council, gives concrete examples: For example, the reintroduction of the industrial tariff planned by the Federal Council from 2024 with the extension of the 4 percent car tax on electricity vehicles. Peter Grünenfelder believes that this measure will slow down the further growth of electric cars in Switzerland.

Climate-friendly words but no action

Politicians love to use climate-friendly words. Grünenfelder notes that only actions that would make the transition to emission-free vehicles truly attractive to the public were not seen by Swiss parliamentarians. “Ongoing energy supply uncertainty and sometimes large increases in electricity tariffs in the state-dominated electricity market will certainly not lead to increased demand for electric cars,” said the President of Auto Switzerland.

What particularly disturbs the automotive industry are the recent plans of the Council of State Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy Commission. The Commission is proposing to the Council a package of measures for the 2023 winter session with the aim of halving greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 by 2030. In addition to stricter CO₂ target values ​​for new vehicles than the EU currently envisages, the proposal not to further develop the still inadequate public charging infrastructure is met with a lack of understanding among car importers.

No charging station expansion support

By a vote of 7 to 5 with one abstention, the commission, chaired by Greens State Councilor Adèle Thorens Goumaz (VD), rejects financial support for charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in multi-party buildings, companies and public parking areas, as the Federal Council would have done. like At its meeting, the Council of State Commission concluded that the provision and financing of charging stations is a duty of private individuals. Auto-Schweiz criticizes this attitude. The importers’ association says that unless the electricity market is liberalized, the state will have to install electricity cables on public land. It therefore assumes that the Council of States will not comply with the decision of its commission, which is counterproductive for electromobility.

Source: Blick