A budget shortfall in the Moves III plan creates a waiting list of more than 40,000 customers waiting to receive aid to purchase electric vehicles. The amount awaiting payment will be approximately 300 million … From the euro.
Plan of movements IIIwhich was initially funded with €400 million, was approved last spring retroactive to January 2, 2025 and is valid until December 31, 2025.
But the aid plan is administered through IDAE, and the money is distributed based on population and not on real demand for electric cars.
This methodology has caused major markets to run out of money in terms of EV sales volume, such as Madrid and Catalonia, in July and September respectively. Currently, there are ten autonomous regions in which available funds have already been exhausted. Since the deadline for the scheme is still open until December 31, customers in these regions will join the waiting list when their purchases are formalized, according to auto sector estimates revealed by Europa Press.
Impact on the market
The electric car market witnessed a tremendous increase this year, with market shares exceeding 20% when adding electric and hybrid cars. It is estimated that pure electric vehicles, which started the year at less than 6%, It will end in 2025 above 9% And about 100,000 sales.
The sector attributes this growth to aid purchases and the arrival of more affordable models, which are even priced below €15,000 after subsidies are applied.
From the automotive sector, it was highlighted that non-extension of the budget is causing a loss of electric vehicle orders. There are now fears that sales will be paralyzed during December pending the official announcement regarding the extension of third moves or the future aid plan for 2026.
How to access Moves III assistance
The current assistance scheme for the purchase of electric vehicles foresees an amount of between 7,000 and 9,000 euros in the case of scrapping for commercial vehicles weighing up to 3,500 kilograms, while for passenger cars, the assistance amounts to 4,500 euros per vehicle (7,000 euros with scrapping).
It deals with two types of procedures: on the one hand, assistance in acquiring vehicles Plug-in electric and fuel cell On the other hand, helping implement electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
In terms of EV acquisition assistance, eligible vehicles may be plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), extended-range electric vehicles (EREV), battery electric vehicles (BEV), as well as fuel cell electric vehicles (FCV and FCHV).
Individuals, self-employed workers, owner communities, companies and public bodies can access this assistance. The amount of assistance varies depending on the applicant, the type of vehicle engine, its class or its autonomy, and ranges between €1,100 and €7,000 (or €1,300 and €9,000 if accompanied by the scrapping of a vehicle over seven years old). Details are included in Appendix III of the Royal Decree regulating aid.
Regarding assistance in implementing EV charging infrastructure, the amount also varies depending on the type of applicant. In the case of individuals, up to 70% of the cost can be requested, while assistance for companies reaches 35%. In municipalities with a population of less than 5,000 people, these percentages can rise to 80% and 40%, respectively.
Delay in receiving aid
The Third Action Plan aid is distributed through the autonomous communities and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, which manage its distribution within their territories. This decentralized approach seeks to adapt the program to the specific needs of each region. Therefore requests It should be provided to autonomous communities Or to the cooperating bodies they appoint.
This means that the time it takes for MOVES III aid to be paid once requested varies widely depending on each autonomous community. In general, collection can take between eight months and two years after the required documents are fully submitted. However, the authorities have a period of six months to decide on the application from the time the funds are allocated.