After Silvio Berlusconi’s remarks that appeared to indicate Italy’s scrappage incentive could be extended into 2010, an Italian minister has also talked about a ‘new incentive scheme’.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
“In a European context of incentives Italy cannot step aside,” Industry Minister Claudio Scajola told daily La Repubblica.
Scajola estimated the cost of a new incentive scheme would be around EUR400-500m, factoring in the extra taxes that would be generated from higher vehicle sales.
Italy’s current scrappage scheme is due to expire at the end of 2009. The new scheme would need to be reworked to favour safety, low fuel consumption and the environment, the paper reported the minister as saying.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said earlier this week that he is ready to help the auto industry beyond the end of this year, implying that Italian government incentives for new car purchase could be extended.
Questioned on Italian TV about Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne’s warnings over ending incentives this year, Berlusconi said: “If, when they expire at the end of the year, it is necessary or helpful, then the government will not shrink from this.”
ITALY: Berlusconi warms to extending incentives [includes audio clip]
