Paris plans to tax SUVs
New year in Paris, new anti-car measures? IDFM (Île de France Mobilité), which manages the organization of transport in Ile-de-France, organized meetings aimed at creating a transport financing plan in the Ile-de-France region for 2024-2030. The aim is to find new funding for AOM (Organisation of Mobility Authorities) as required by the continued development of new metro lines, expansion of existing lines and especially tramway development.
These needs will amount to 1.5 billion euros per year. The IDFM’s budget is currently €10 billion per year, of which 6% is funded by the city of Paris. The representatives of the IDFM, led by David Belliard, Deputy Mayor of Paris for Mobility (EELV) and Vice President of the IDFM, presented their proposals there. Among them According to them, a tax on the purchase of SUVs that meet the “polluter pays” principle.
SUV = heavy rich cars?
But the criteria that determine the vehicles to be taxed are very vague. With the proliferation of crossovers (comprising several segments), it is increasingly difficult to clearly define an SUV. Are the Peugeot 408, Renault Mégane E-Tech, Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Citroën C4 SUVs or rugged looking sedans? In addition, The Paris proposal consists of taxing models weighing more than or equal to 1,400kg (so in addition to the government penalty of 1,800kg).. Only cars in the A and B segments (city dwellers) and the entry-level C segment (compacts) are lighter than all body types combined. So the Renault Austral actually weighs over 1,400kg, but so does the mid-range Mercedes A-Class.
Peugeot 3008, Renault Arkana and others are lighter. Ultimately, David Belliard and his team’s reasoning is based on the idea that SUV buyers are in good shape. ” The purchase of these heavy vehicles, which are the main emitters of greenhouse gases, is linked to a very specific sociology: the privileged customer. “, they say in their presentation. Nevertheless this mention of greenhouse gases means that both the heaviest and most expensive electric models will be exempted from this penalty.. The tax rate is not mentioned.
Are road transport specialists involved?
Other road transport measures have been proposed, such as the creation of an eco-tax for heavy goods vehicles and e-commerce companies contributing one euro per package delivered in Paris (€180 million a year). ), the respective companies that use the Ile-de-France transport network to carry out their activities with vehicles that are sources of pollution. According to representatives of the city of Paris, raising the VAT on public transport from 10% to 5.5% without lowering the price would also free up €150 million a year for AOMs “in the face of a retreating state”.
is also intended to be doneIncrease the Mobility Payment (a contribution of 60% of the IDFM budget) for companies located in the center of Paris, i.e. from the 5th to the 9th as well as the 16th and 17th.. These districts will then become “reward zones” connecting “companies that can support the increase in the Mobility Fee” according to the conditions used. From there, there is only one step to hear “enable”. David Belliard argues that the intention is admirable. A fair return to the Pass Navigo of €75.20 (increased to €84.10 per month on January 1, ed), as well as a 20% increase in the salaries of RATP drivers, drivers and maintenance workers promote and improve public transport to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. But he himself recognizes the “unprecedented deterioration of the quality of service in recent months”, but often the compulsion prevents viable alternatives for Ile-de-France motorists.
