Spain has launched a new nationwide grant scheme to help people buy electric and electrified vehicles, with €350 million available for private buyers in 2026.
The new Auto+ programme offers financial help towards both new vehicles and nearly-new models up to 12 months old.
Private buyers can already apply, with applications open until 14:00 on 31 December 2026.
However, the Government will award grants in the order it receives eligible applications. If the €350 million budget runs out before December, applications could effectively close earlier.
The scheme will eventually cover private buyers, self-employed workers and businesses, although the first 2026 funding round focuses on people buying vehicles for personal use.
Who can apply for the Auto+ grant?
The Government has divided Auto+ into two lines.
Line 1 covers private individuals who do not carry out an economic activity.
They can claim help towards qualifying new vehicles or nearly-new vehicles up to 12 months old. The vehicles must have Spanish registration and meet the requirements of the 2026 funding round.
Line 2 will cover businesses, self-employed workers and individuals who carry out an economic activity.
This part of the programme will also cover certain financial leasing and renting arrangements. Where a finance company holds the vehicle registration, the agreement must run for at least three years.
The Ministry of Industry and Tourism plans to open this second line after the summer.
How much money can you get?
Auto+ does not offer one fixed payment for every electric vehicle.
Instead, several factors will determine how much a buyer can receive.
These include the type of vehicle, its level of electrification, its purchase price and its contribution to the European automotive industry and supply chain.
The relevant funding round will also set a maximum amount that each beneficiary can receive.
For private buyers applying through Line 1 in 2026, the Government has set aside a maximum of €350 million.
Nearly-new cars can qualify too
Buyers do not necessarily need to choose a brand-new vehicle to benefit from Auto+.
Line 1 also covers qualifying nearly-new vehicles up to 12 months old.
The vehicle must have Spanish registration and meet the other conditions of the programme.
That potentially opens the grants to people considering recently registered vehicles rather than limiting the scheme solely to factory-new cars.
How to apply for Auto+
The Government will process eligible applications in the order it receives them.
That makes timing important.
Once the available money for a funding round runs out, the Government can no longer award further grants from that allocation, even if the official application deadline has not yet arrived.
In other words, this is one government grant where joining the back of the queue may prove expensive.
Applications close on 31 December
The Government published the first Auto+ funding round, covering Line 1, on 4 August 2026.
Private buyers can apply until 14:00 mainland Spanish time on 31 December 2026.
The deadline could become academic if applicants claim the entire available budget before then.
Auto+ itself will run for considerably longer. The Government plans to maintain the nationwide programme until 31 December 2030, with individual funding rounds and budgets during that period.
Why has Spain introduced Auto+?
Auto+ forms part of the wider España Auto 2030 plan, through which the Government wants to accelerate Spain’s transition towards electric transport.
The programme aims to make electric vehicles accessible to more people, cut transport emissions and strengthen vehicle manufacturing in Spain and elsewhere in Europe.
It also continues the work of previous schemes, including the MOVES programme, which ran between 2019 and 2025.
Spain’s automotive industry supports around 1.9 million jobs.
The Government hopes Auto+ will strengthen that industry while encouraging more drivers to choose electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Bridging the Gap recap
- Spain has launched the new Auto+ programme for electric and electrified vehicles.
- The scheme operates throughout Spain.
- Private buyers can apply through Line 1.
- New and qualifying nearly-new vehicles up to 12 months old can qualify.
- Vehicles must meet the programme conditions and have Spanish registration.
- The grant varies according to factors including vehicle type, price, electrification and its contribution to the European automotive industry.
- The Government has allocated €350 million to Line 1 for 2026.
- The Government will award grants in application order until the available budget runs out.
- Applications close at 14:00 on 31 December 2026, unless applicants exhaust the funding earlier.
- The Government plans to open a separate line for businesses and self-employed workers after the summer.
- The wider Auto+ programme will continue until 31 December 2030.
