Cantabria will hand out €1,200 in aid to buy vehicles

It’s about time a regional government has pitched in to help solve part of the crisis in Spain’s car market. The Cantabrian government is offering €300 in government aid and €900 in discounts, thanks to agreements it has reached with dealerships, for those who want to buy a new car costing up to €30,000, starting July 9.

The measure will try to ease, to some extent, the 30% drop in sales in the region over recent months, as they plan for 1,500 more units to be sold thanks to this new aid, for which €500,000 will be earmarked. The aid may be used huntil December 15 or until that same budget runs out.

The aid will work as follows (not too different from the former Plan 2000E): the €1,200 can only be used to purchase passenger cars, SUVs, light vans and new vehicles registered in 2012, and only if a car at least ten years old is handed in for scrapping. Should the allocated budget run out before December 15, the Cantabrian government would consider expanding it to keep the aid plan going.

A statement from Anfac described the measure as “very beneficial,” because it has a positive impact on tax revenue, as well as on economic activity and employment in the region; in Cantabria, the car sector provides work for around 5,000 people.

We can only hope the Cantabrian plan is a complete success and that the other regions decide to copy this aid scheme, since it is currently the only way for most Spaniards to buy a new car.

Via | La Información