Spain says goodbye to MOVES: What drivers need to know about the new ‘auto plan 2030′

Spain is gearing up for a major change in the electric vehicle (EV), incentive system. The government has confirmed that the long-running MOVES scheme – which has supported thousands of drivers in buying electric cars – will soon come to an end. The government has announced that the long-running MOVES scheme, which supported thousands of drivers in buying electric cars, will soon come to an end.

This new plan won’t just tweak a few details – it’s set to completely change how electric car subsidies are handled, promising faster payments, fairer access, and a clearer national strategy for a greener automotive future.

Start of something new after the end of MOVES

Auto Plan 2030 is set to be presented officially by the Spanish Government before the end 2020, and the system will be fully operational as early as 2026. This means goodbye to MOVES IIIThis is the final and third edition of an initiative that has been in place for many years with mixed success.

A major change is the fact that funds will no longer be managed by regional governments. The central government of Spain will handle everything. Under the current MOVES model, money was distributed to each region — a setup that led to huge inequalities. Some regions ran out of money much sooner than others, leaving thousands without grants.

By September 2025 nine autonomous communities, mostly those with high EV sales, had exhausted their MOVES Budgets. While other regions still had funding available, this created frustration amongst buyers and dealerships.

The new Auto Plan 2030 seeks to rectify this imbalance, by pooling all the resources in one pot. Everyone will have the same opportunity to benefit, no matter where you live.

Pay faster and with fewer headaches

Anyone who has applied for MOVES funds knows that the process isn’t exactly quick. Many buyers waited months — and in some cases up to two years – to receive their money back. The delays were so bad that the car manufacturers began to advance the discount, deducting the amount from the vehicle’s price up front and later reclaiming it once the government’s money finally arrived.

With the new Auto Plan, everything should run smoothly. The government promised to drastically reduce the waiting time, and payments can be made within days of approval.

This centralised system should not only simplify life for drivers, but also for the automakers and dealers that were caught up in the bureaucratic limbo caused by regional paperwork.

The new plan does not just help individuals purchase electric cars. It also includes support for research and development (R&D) within the Spanish automotive sector. Spain is already the EU’s number two car producer and ranked eighth globally. As the industry moves to cleaner energy, the government wants this position to be strengthened.

A roadmap for a more sustainable Spain

Auto Plan 2030 was designed to last, unlike MOVES, which needed to be renewed every couple of years. The strategy includes a total of 25 long-term initiatives designed to support the country’s transition towards sustainable mobility and boost the adoption rate of electric vehicles over the next ten years.

The plan is part of Spain’s larger plan to meet 2035, the deadline for the European Union. sale of new petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars will be banned. From that year on, only fully electric or zero-emission vehicles will be allowed on the market – meaning hydrogen-powered cars could also play a role in Spain’s transport mix.

Auto Plan 2030, therefore, is not another subsidy program that will be short-lived. The Auto Plan 2030 is the foundation of what the Spanish government hopes will lead to a future that’s faster, more fair and greener for Spanish roads.

If it works as intended, it could finally solve some of the biggest headaches of MOVES – long waits, regional inequalities and endless red tape – while helping Spain cement its status as one of Europe’s leaders in the electric revolution.

Now, everyone is waiting for the official announcement that will be made before the end 2025. It’s clear that 2026 is the year for those who are considering an electric vehicle.