Motor vehicle taxation brings in €440.4 billion for governments in major European markets
Brussels, 28 April 2020 – New data shows that motor vehicles generate more than €440 billion in taxation for national governments in the major EU markets plus the UK, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) reports.

Motor tax revenues collected by governments have increased by almost 3% compared to the previous year, and the grand total of €440.4 billion is equivalent to more than two and a half times the total budget of the European Union.
“This just goes to show the sheer scale of the importance of the automobile industry to Europe,” stated Eric-Mark Huitema, ACEA Director General. “It is clearly paramount to the overall health of the EU economy, and government budgets in particular, that we can successfully re-launch our industry in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.”
ACEA published this new data today in the 2020 edition of its Tax Guide, which compiles the latest information about taxes on vehicle acquisition (VAT, sales tax, registration tax), ownership (annual circulation tax, road tax) and motoring (fuel tax) in the EU and other key markets around the world.
The top 5 countries with the highest motor tax revenues are:
- Germany − €93.4 billion
- France − €83.9 billion
- Italy − €76.3 billion
- United Kingdom − €54.1 billion
- Spain − €30.0 billion
According to the new Guide, 24 countries levy car taxes partially or totally based on the CO2 emissions and/or fuel consumption of a vehicle. The three countries that do not apply CO2-based taxation are Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. Several countries still tax cars on their power, price, weight, cylinder capacity, or a combination of these factors.
The Tax Guide also shows that stimuli for electrically-chargeable cars are available in 24 out of the 27 EU states now. However, just 13 member states offer purchase incentives, such as bonus payments or premiums, to buyers of electric cars. Most countries grant only tax reductions or exemptions.
It is clearly paramount to the overall health of the EU economy, and government budgets in particular, that we can successfully re-launch our industry in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.
Notes for editors
- The full 2020 edition of the ACEA Tax Guide is available at: http://www.acea.auto/publications/acea-tax-guide-2020/.
- An interactive map showing fiscal income from motor vehicles in the major European markets can be found here: http://www.acea.auto/figures/interactive-map-fiscal-income-from-motor-vehicles-in-the-eu-15-by-country/.
- In this context, the major European markets are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. For other EU countries, data on motor tax revenues are not available.
- This Guide covers the 27 member states of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the three EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland). In addition, it also provides in-depth information for China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, Turkey and the United States.
- ACEA’s statement, ‘Corona crisis: Towards a strong and green re-launch of the EU auto industry’, can be found here: http://www.acea.auto/pr-regular/corona-crisis-guidelines-for-re-launch-of-eu-auto-industry/.
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
Contact:
- Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
- Ben Kennard, Content Editor and Press Manager, bk@acea.auto, +32 487 39 21 82
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About the EU automobile industry
- 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total