Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis told OffsiteNews that the government is considering the possibility of introducing two separate subsidy schemes for electric and hybrid vehicles, instead of just one. The Road Transport Department (RTD) has already submitted a proposal to the Minister, who requested revisions to ensure the new plan can meet the needs of as many citizens as possible.

At the same time, vehicle importers are urging the government to announce the new scheme immediately, claiming that the market has effectively "frozen" due to the uncertainty.

The Association of Motor Vehicle Importers has asked the government to retain the core parameters of the previous subsidy scheme. As its president, Sotos Trikomitis, stated, importers had based their vehicle orders on those criteria: “We placed orders and brought in cars based on the previous scheme,” he said.

“There is no demand for electric vehicles without subsidies,” Trikomitis noted, adding that the RTD should have already had a follow-up scheme ready once the previous one expired.

According to him, demand had spiked with the launch of the last scheme, and many consumers rushed to apply before it closed. “Now, the market is frozen. Sales of electric vehicles have stalled, and people are even asking for their money back,” he said.

Trikomitis also revealed that about 500 electric vehicles remain in stock. “We expected 400–450 applications across all categories. Instead, only 150 applications were submitted before the scheme closed in under two minutes. Consumers were left exposed.”

He added that importers were also caught off guard. “We invested in electrification—buying equipment, training staff abroad, acquiring chargers, setting up garages and showrooms.” The uncertainty, he said, makes it impossible to serve consumers effectively, and called on the Minister to provide clarity within the coming days.

Speaking to OffsiteNews, Minister Vafeadis acknowledged the concerns raised by importers and confirmed that a new subsidy scheme is in the works.

In response to whether a new plan will be introduced, he confirmed affirmatively, adding that two separate subsidy schemes may be introduced, depending on the evolving data and needs.

“Our goal is not just to assist people who missed out on the previous scheme, but also to find a way—short-term or medium-term—to support other citizens with different eligibility criteria, such as large families,” he said.

“The previous plan clearly didn’t serve all citizens’ needs. That’s why I want to explore how we can expand the categories to ensure better support,” the Minister added.

When asked about the timeline, Vafeadis said the RTD has submitted a draft proposal, but he requested changes to include more groups. “My aim is to submit the revised plan to the Council of Ministers as soon as possible,” he said.

He also emphasized that the new scheme will take into account the data and lessons from the previous plan, which has now ended. “Our intention is to promote electrification and we will continue to do so until we reach our 2030 goal,” he concluded. “I am waiting for the updated plan with the requested changes so that we can announce the new electric and hybrid vehicle subsidy scheme.”