The combustion engine car, the bigger it is, the more it pollutes.

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SYSPEO / SIPA

Details of the new penalty.

Electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles weighing more than 1,800 kg will be excluded from a new tax, which will also be reduced for seven-seater cars, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday.

The Citizens' Convention on the Climate had called for the introduction of a tax on vehicles weighing more than 1.4 tonnes, which are large emitters of greenhouse gases.

Environmentalists had already denounced a "unraveling" of their proposal with the passage finally retained to 1.8 tonnes, which in fact excludes most models of French manufacturers.

Do not penalize large families

“We don't want to tax all vehicles over 1,800 kg.

Those which are electric or rechargeable hybrids therefore which emit little CO2 will be excluded from this taxation, ”Bruno Le Maire said on BFM TV on Friday.

He also added that "all vehicles with seven seats which are for large families will have a reduction in this tax, so that large families are not penalized."

"Too heavy vehicles are not good for the planet"

For the Minister of the Economy, "it is a tax which sends a signal to the French by saying that vehicles that are too heavy are not good for the planet, they wear out the roads, they emit more CO2, than there are alternatives ”, in particular by purchasing an electric, plug-in hybrid or lighter vehicle.

It is also "a political signal (...), a signal to the builders", added the Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili, "happy" with the adoption of this measure for which she had pleaded when she was a member of Parliament.

“The tendency to make bigger and bigger cars has to stop.

"

“These big SUVs [from the English

sport utility vehicle

] are essentially bought for the city, it's absurd.

Through this penalty, I want awareness.

We are not here to hit people.

We know that this penalty will certainly be intended to change over time, ”she replied to criticism during a trip to Rungis.

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  • Car

  • Greenhouse gas

  • Tax

  • Pollution

  • Economy