Carmakers apply for French EV subsidies under more stringent rules

Automakers will from Tuesday submit the specifications of their electric vehicles to French authorities in the hope they can continue to benefit from subsidies under new conditions that are likely to edge out many Chinese models. Amid fierce competition in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, the environmental score of each model will be based on the whole production cycle, factoring in carbon emissions for the transportation of the cars and the materials and energy sources used to build them.

Automakers will from Tuesday submit the specifications of their electric vehicles to French authorities in the hope they can continue to benefit from subsidies under new conditions that are likely to edge out many Chinese models.

Amid fierce competition in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, the environmental score of each model will be based on the whole production cycle, factoring in carbon emissions for the transportation of the cars and the materials and energy sources used to build them.

Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, and the Dacia Spring are among the EV models most sold in France, and they are built in China, as is the increasingly popular MG4, built by China's SAIC group.

The government subsidy for electric cars stands at 5,000 euros ($5,270) for most households, and 7,000 for poorer ones.

Car producers should get a response around December 15 and will be allowed to appeal any negative decision.