October 15, 2020
16:37
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With a tax on the weight of cars, the French government wants to combat the impact of car traffic on the environment. The measure primarily targets SUVs, which are very popular.
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“The malus on the weight that we are introducing is a strong and necessary signal to better take into account the ecological footprint of the heaviest vehicles,” argues French Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili. ‘Increasing the fleet means higher consumption of materials and energy, more pollution and less public space.’
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The tax, to come into effect next year, will be 10 euros per kilo above 1,800 kilos, the ministry stated. Some of the SUVs and many off-road vehicles fall into that category. There will be adjustments for large families and an exemption for electric vehicles.
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Since 2010, according to the French government, the average weight of diesel cars has increased by 7 percent and that of petrol cars by 14 percent, which equates to approximately 100 kilos per vehicle.
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The measure was accompanied by the proposals of a citizens’ panel in which 150 drawn citizens proposed measures for the climate.
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