More and more people want to buy cars that run completely or partly on electricity. Individuals can receive up to SEK 60,000 in the climate bonus, and almost completely avoid vehicle tax. Anyone who chooses a climate car as a service car receives a reduced benefit value, and employers receive a tax rebate. Qualifying as a climate car has therefore become crucial in the Swedish car market.

The government raises maximum emissions

But this year, the EU's new, more realistic emissions measurements will start to apply. Most car models get higher emission values ​​with the new way of measuring. Some fell above the maximum limit for climate cars at 60 grams per kilometer, thus threatening to be removed from the climate bonus list. But instead, the government eased the requirements in the autumn budget, raising the maximum emission level from 60 to 70 grams per kilometer.

- If we did not raise the limit, too much would be allowed to take advantage of the bonus and the system would risk being less controlling, says Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson (S).

Favored several Volvo models

But most of today's almost 100 climate car models would do well with the old border. SVT has reviewed data on all climate cars registered from start 2018 to October 2019. Only eleven models have been saved thanks to the relief. All seven of them are Volvo models.

- It was surprising that the government adapted. I find it difficult to think that a Volvo XC90 SUV, which goes four miles on electricity and then draws closer to a liter of miles, is an environmental car, says Ronny Svensson, consultant in company car issues.

"The job in front of the environment"

Håkan Matson has followed the car industry for 40 years as one of Sweden's foremost motor journalists.

He believes that the jobs have systematically won over the environment when governments have long decided on taxes and regulations. Since Volvo and Saab have historically focused on big and safe but heavy and thirsty cars, it is the kind of cars that have been favored by politicians.

- Every time you have tried to introduce more stringent requirements on fuel consumption, the Swedish car industry has in different ways turned to the politicians and said that this will cost a lot of jobs and then the politicians have given up, says Håkan Matson.

"Counteracted smaller cars"

It is common for politicians to try to favor their own car industry.

"Obviously, the politicians should coordinate with the companies as well, but there has been an extreme adjustment on the part of the politicians," says Jens Forsmark, expert in sustainable transport at the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

According to Jens Forsmark, governments have repeatedly thwarted a development towards smaller cars that are better for the climate. This also applies to the latest relief when raising the emission limit so that the Volvo suvars retained their status as climate cars.

"Had been more fuel efficient"

Public transport consultant Ronny Svensson believes that today's charging hybrids have been more fuel efficient if Volvo had greater pressure on it.

- Then the technicians would have worked even harder against it, which I am convinced of, says Ronny Svensson.

- Of course, I think it is good that there are many Volvo models that can take advantage of this environmental bonus and hope that many Swedes choose to buy a climate-smart Volvo mobile, a charging hybrid rather than buying one that is not a charging hybrid, says Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson (S)