EV Subsidies Now Evaluate the 'Company' Rather Than Just the 'Vehicle'

Starting in July 2026, the domestic business contribution of manufacturers and importers will be added as a subsidy requirement alongside vehicle performance. From July of this year, the electric vehicle subsidy allocation system is undergoing a fundamental shift. Previously, subsidies were granted simply if the automobile's own performance—such as driving range per single charge, battery efficiency, and retail price—met certain criteria. However, the 'Evaluation Criteria for Selecting Electric Vehicle Distribution Project Operators for 2026' released by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of Climate) on March 31 changes that premise entirely. No matter how excellent a vehicle's performance may be, it will be fundamentally excluded from receiving subsidies unless the manufacturer or importer selling the vehicle passes a separate evalua…