The French government is reducing its subsidies for people buying fuel-efficient cars but is increasing penalties for buyers of high-consumption vehicles.
In 2008 France launched a bonus-malus system which has brought average CO2 emissions from new cars down from 149 g/km to 128. But in revenue terms, the penalties on gas-guzzlers have not brought in enough money to offset the cost of subsidising fuel-efficient cars. The bonuses start at €5000 for buyers of cars emitting less than 50 g/km and include €100 for cars emitting 90-105g, while the penalties start at €200 for cars emitting 141-150g. In future, any car emitting 190g or more will have to pay the penalty every year, not just once.
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