ZDK demands end to double taxation for diesel vehicles

The motor vehicle industry is calling for targeted relief for commercially used vehicles and proposes a refund of 15 to 17 cents per liter of diesel fuel.

In light of the renewed energy crisis, now triggered by the war in Iran, politicians are discussing ways to provide relief for citizens and businesses. Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Industry (ZDK) calls for targeted relief for commercially used vehicles and proposes a refund of 15 to 17 cents per liter of diesel fuel for toll-liable vehicles over 3,5 tons.

"The double CO₂ burden is neither fair nor economically sustainable. Commercial vehicles pay the CO₂ price both through truck tolls and at the fuel pump – this drives costs up massively," explains ZDK President Thomas Peckruhn. "This additional burden directly affects domestic businesses and ultimately passes on to consumers through higher costs for products and services."

Refund analogous to agricultural diesel

A simplified refund process, similar to the agricultural diesel tax refund, would provide quick and noticeable relief. The CO₂ component of the truck toll is a significant burden depending on the vehicle class: According to the German Association of Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK), for Euro 6 vehicles it ranges from 7,4 cents per kilometer for 3,5-ton trucks to 15,8 cents per kilometer for 40-ton trucks – this corresponds to €7,40 to €15,80 per 100 kilometers.

A refund of 15 to 17 cents per liter of diesel would, according to calculations by the ZDK (German Association of Motor Trades and Repairs), provide noticeable relief: A 40-ton truck with a consumption of around 25 liters per 100 kilometers would save about four euros per 100 kilometers (around 25 percent). Smaller vans with a consumption of around eight liters per 100 kilometers could save around 1,20 euros per 100 kilometers (about 15 percent).

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"Those who provide relief now will stabilize businesses."

Such relief would benefit the transport sector and the entire small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) industry. Consumers would also experience noticeable relief through more stable prices along supply chains. Peckruhn: "It is high time to end the double CO₂ charge for toll-liable vehicles over 3,5 tons, which was introduced two years ago. Relief now will stabilize businesses, secure supplies, and protect consumers from further price increases."

Source: ZDK

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