Private individuals who scrap an older car with a combustion engine can receive a cash contribution if they buy or lease an electric car. This was the government's stated intention behind the initiative that has been ongoing for a year.
500 million kronor was allocated for the period August 20, 2024 to October 31, 2025. But new figures from the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning show that only 1,463 premiums totaling just under 36 million kronor have been paid out so far.
"You need a strong magnifying glass to see the climate benefit of the scrapping premium – but that 80 percent of the allocation will be left over is a fantastic opportunity to do more without it costing more. The government should take it promptly," says Mattias Goldmann, CEO of the 2030 secretariat, in a press release.
The organization – which works for a less climate-impacting vehicle fleet – wants to include more vehicle categories, extend the premium by another year, improve the information around it, and also allow smaller companies and municipalities to apply.
Both the authority Trafikanalys and the 2030 secretariat already considered when the initiative was introduced last year that the government is exaggerating the climate benefit of the premium and predicted that only part of the allocation would be used.
This year, the government raised the premium from 10,000 to 25,000 kronor. More vehicles with emission class Euro 5 are also included.
The number of approved applications for scrapping premium:
1. Västra Götaland: 310
2. Stockholms län: 264
3. Skåne län: 153
4. Uppsala län: 81
5. Hallands län: 72
At the bottom of the list are Gotlands län with 8 paid premiums, Jämtlands län with 12 and Kronobergs län with 19.
The figures apply up to and including August 19.
Source: National Board of Housing, Building and Planning
