Jordi Hereu, Spain’s Minister of Industry and Tourism, said at an event in Barcelona that the long-delayed Auto+ grant program for electric and electrified vehicles was expected to be published within days. His announcement followed months of uncertainty for drivers and carmakers waiting for the €400 million initiative to launch.
Auto+ replaced the earlier MOVES III model as Spain’s basic national purchase-support program. MOVES III was administered through Spain’s autonomous communities, while Auto+ is managed centrally by the Ministry of Industry. The shift was intended to give buyers and manufacturers a more uniform system. But the application platform did not become operational until July 2026, delaying transactions and leaving dealers and customers uncertain.
The 2026 allocation is split between two funding lines: €350 million for private buyers and €50 million for companies and self-employed workers. Applications are scheduled to close on 31 December 2026, although the broader legal structure reportedly runs through 2030. Reporting identifies Real Decreto 609/2026 as the regulation governing the program.
How Auto+ Works
The program supports eligible vehicles carrying Spain’s “CERO” emissions label, including battery-electric and range-extender vehicles, as well as plug-in hybrids. Grants can reach €4,500 per vehicle, with the final amount based on vehicle type and price, alongside European production criteria. Vehicles priced below €35,000 receive the strongest support; eligible vehicles costing up to €45,000 qualify for a reduced amount.
Under the scheme’s grant breakdown, fully electric cars qualify for a base grant of €2,250, while plug-in hybrids can receive €1,125. Additional support depends on price: vehicles costing less than €35,000 qualify for a 25% increase, while those priced between €35,000 and €45,000 receive a 15% supplement. European assembly and finishing can add another 15%. A further 10% is available if part of the battery production takes place in Europe. These criteria link consumer incentives to affordability and the policy goal of strengthening European vehicle manufacturing.
Retroactive Eligibility
One of Auto+’s most anticipated features is its retroactive coverage. Government officials said grants would apply to qualifying purchases made from 1 January 2026, even if the vehicle was bought before the application platform opened. This means early buyers who met the program’s conditions would not lose access to support because of the delayed launch.
The government has presented Auto+ as a way to boost demand for cleaner vehicles while supporting European, particularly Spanish, manufacturing. Its preference for European assembly and battery production is part of a broader industrial policy. Industry reporting says European resources have helped mobilise more than €21.6 billion in private investment to change vehicle-production plants.
Industry and Consumer Impact
The delayed rollout unsettled buyers and dealers. Industry groups linked the administrative gap to postponed deliveries, while some customers withdrew from transactions. By 16 October 2026, private applicants had requested €258.77 million from their €350 million allocation, leaving about €91.23 million in that line. Ministry figures cited in October put requests across both funding lines at approximately 71% of the overall €400 million budget. The reported average grant requested by private buyers was €3,167 per vehicle.
Pressure on the funds has raised questions about whether support will continue after the 2026 call ends. The 2027 budget allocation had not been approved, and government sources cited by Cinco Días said no budget line had been approved to renew the subsidies. Automotive industry groups have urged the government to ensure continuity from 1 January 2027. They warned that uncertainty could delay purchases and leave plug-in vehicle buyers without national support if no replacement scheme is adopted.
Spain also offers incentives that can be combined with Auto+ for people considering a new electric car. For example, the Certificado de Ahorro Energético (CAE) can provide up to €1,000 in extra savings, as detailed in this overview of how energy savings certificates stack with government grants.
What Comes Next
Hereu’s announcement raised expectations for a program delayed by months, but the platform’s later opening meant support was not immediately available. The 2026 application period is due to close at year’s end, and no 2027 allocation has been approved. The next test is whether the government can maintain support without a gap. Auto+’s finite funding lines also mean meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee assistance after the relevant allocation runs out.
Auto+ links consumer incentives with industrial policy as competition in electric-vehicle manufacturing intensifies. By tying grants to vehicle price and European production, the scheme aims to encourage cleaner mobility and support the region’s manufacturing base. Retroactive eligibility also extends the offer to qualifying buyers who purchased before the platform opened.
