There were 132,276 hybrid cars, 23,454 electric vehicles and 1,095 hydrogen cars purchased as second cars as of the end of August this year. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEJONG, Oct. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The government offers subsidies when citizens decide to buy eco-friendly vehicles. However, 3 out of every 10 government-supported vehicles are second cars.
In an annual parliamentary audit conducted by the Ministry of Environment Wednesday, Rep. Jeon Hyun-hee of the ruling Democratic Party said that the public tends to have fuel-efficient eco-friendly cars as “second cars” with subsidy discounts.
According to the data received by the Ministry of Environment, the number of eco-friendly vehicles used as a second car is significant.
There were 132,276 hybrid cars, 23,454 electric vehicles and 1,095 hydrogen cars purchased as second cars as of the end of August this year.
“In a simple calculation, 28 percent of hybrid car owners, 30 percent of electric car owners, and 37 percent of hydrogen car owners purchased eco-friendly vehicles as second cars. The government subsidy meant for the public has degenerated into a discount system for the upper class,” Jeon said.
Jeon suggested that “the government needs to provide more subsidies if one is to buy an eco-friendly car as the first car, or reduce the subsidy or make subsidy policy more sophisticated.”
In response, Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae explained that “the current subsidy system has a purpose to create a more active market as demand for eco-friendly cars is still quite small.”
However, the Cho added that the government “will consult with related authorities because we need to introduce differential subsidies anyways.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
