Fleet Replacement Program 2021

As part of the subsidy program for the renewal of the commercial vehicle fleet, you will receive a government grant of between €10,000 and €15,000 if you scrap your old truck (Euro 0–Euro V or EEV) and opt for a new Euro 6 truck with a combustion engine or gas-powered engine.

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FAQ - What You Need to Know

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Which vehicles are eligible for the subsidy? 

• New Euro 6 trucks weighing 7.5 tons or more (purchase and lease) with conventional diesel engines, gas engines, electric motors, or hydrogen fuel cells

• that are equipped with a lane departure warning system (LDWS)

• If possible, the vehicle should be equipped with rolling resistance-optimized tires at the time of delivery, which are labeled with energy efficiency classes A or B in terms of rolling resistance coefficient. This is often not possible, particularly in distribution transport, which is why the BWVL has added an exception: 

“If the new vehicle cannot be equipped with tires in energy efficiency class A or B (neither upon delivery by the original equipment manufacturer nor through retrofitting), because the aforementioned efficiency classes are permanently unavailable for this vehicle (delivery bottlenecks do not fall under this category) or do not correspond to the vehicle’s intended use, this does not preclude eligibility for the subsidy provided all other requirements are met.”  According to the BWVL, this circumstance must be demonstrated to the approving authority.  In any case, however, the applicant is obligated to have the tire class installed that best meets the vehicle’s intended use from an efficiency standpoint.

• A vehicle is considered new if its model year is 2021. In particular, in the case of a multi-stage production process, vehicle production may well have begun in 2020. However, the final major production steps must have taken place in 2021.

 

How much is the subsidy?

• €15,000 for Euro 5 or EEV trucks

• €10,000 for Euro 4 trucks or those with a lower emissions standard

• The grant is a one-time payment and does not need to be repaid. It may only be applied for and paid once per new vehicle and upon the scrapping of the corresponding existing vehicle

• The maximum grant amount per company is €800,000

• The subsidy program also provides a grant of up to €5,000, but no more than 60 percent of the purchase cost, for the acquisition of so-called smart trailer technology (e.g., technologies for tire pressure monitoring or digital control systems for semi-trailers and trailers, or aerodynamic attachments)

 

Are the tires required for the smart trailer technology grant eligible for funding under the “de minimis” program?

• Yes, expenses for the purchase of rolling resistance-optimized tires with energy efficiency classes A or B are eligible for funding under the “de minimis” program, provided that all necessary requirements are met.

 

What requirements must be met for the 2021 Fleet Replacement Program?

• Commercial use of the existing vehicle and the new vehicle to be purchased.

• Newly registered vehicles must be equipped with a lane-change assistant (that meets the specifications of the BMVI). Confirmation of the retrofit must be attached to the application.

• Proof of scrapping of the existing vehicle (Euro 0 - V or EEV).

• The existing vehicle to be scrapped must have been registered in Germany for at least 12 months (counting backward from the date of scrapping).

• The new truck must remain with the company for at least 24 months, or the lease agreement must have a minimum term of 24 months.

• A vehicle is considered a “new vehicle” if it was manufactured in 2021.

• Proof of registration must be submitted to the BAG no later than 2 months after registration and no later than December 31, 2021.

• Rolling resistance-optimized tires in energy efficiency classes A or B are not a requirement, according to the BMVI (as of January 27, 2021).

 

What does “scrapping” the old vehicle mean?

• “Scrapping” refers to the proper recycling of the vehicle in accordance with the requirements of the Ordinance on the Supply, Take-Back, and Environmentally Sound Disposal of End-of-Life Vehicles (End-of-Life Vehicles Ordinance), as well as the subsequent processing of the remaining body in a shredding facility (complete destruction).

• Scrapping may only take place after an application has been submitted and must occur no later than two months after the new vehicle’s initial registration under traffic law and no later than December 31, 2021.

• Submit the certificate of recycling to your registration authority when decommissioning the old vehicle​

 

Does the semi-trailer/trailer have to be purchased new in order to acquire the smart trailer technology?

• No. The smart trailer technology can also be acquired for existing vehicles. The prerequisite is the granting of the aforementioned subsidy for a new vehicle in the event of the scrapping of an existing vehicle.

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Can an additional grant for the smart trailer technology be applied for through the “de minimis” grant program?

• No. Since this would constitute double funding, the applicant must decide under which grant program a grant will be applied for or approved.

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Is the turn-assist system required here eligible for funding through the “De Minimis” grant program or the “AAS” grant program?

• Yes, the costs associated with purchasing the turn-assist system are eligible for funding through the “De Minimis” grant program or the “AAS” grant program, provided that all necessary requirements are met.

 

When can applications be submitted?

• Starting Tuesday, January 26, 2021

 

How do I submit an application?

• Applications can only be submitted electronically via the application portal (eService) of the Federal Office for Goods Transport: https://antrag-gbbmvi.bund.de/

• If you do not have an account for the eService portal, a quick guide to completing the registration steps is available at https://antrag-gbbmvi.bund.de/bedienungsanleitung.

 

When is the deadline for submitting applications?

• Applications may be submitted to the BAG until April 15, 2021.

• The electronic application system will close once budget funds are exhausted. This may occur even before April 15.

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Who is not eligible to apply?

• Applicants for whom insolvency proceedings have been filed or initiated will not be granted funding.

• We reserve the right to conduct a credit check on the applicant, which may result in the denial of funding.

 

What documents are required for the application?

To apply, you will need

• the fully completed application form

• the appendix “Overview of Smart Trailer Technologies,” if you are applying for smart trailer technologies,

• as well as the signed verification form (mandatory appendix to the application)

 

Electronic copies of the following documents must be attached to the application:

• the Certificate of Registration Part I for each existing vehicle,

• an electronic copy of appropriate proof, e.g., a non-binding offer from the seller with details on each new vehicle to be purchased (including year of manufacture, drive type, and, if applicable, emission class, tires, and whether equipped with a lane-change assist system).

• All required forms and instructions for completing the application can be found on the application portal (eService Portal) at https://antrag-gbbmvi.bund.de/.

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Do you need assistance or would you like to schedule an appointment for a personalized consultation? 
We’d be happy to assist you! Please feel free to use our contact form or call one of our advisors directly at 02841 9313911.

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Source of our information: https://www.bag.bund.de/DE/Navigation/Foerderprogramme/Flottenerneuerung/Nutzfahrzeugflotte/Fragen_Antworten/Fragen_und_Antworten_node.html