Stellantis, Volkswagen Drop After Losing US Electric-Car Subsidy

Stellantis NV and Volkswagen AG shares declined as some of their plug-in cars lost access to US tax credits under tougher rules that took effect this week.

VW's ID.4 electric crossover lost its full $7,500 tax credit, according to the latest listing by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. Stellantis models including two plug-in hybrid Jeep sport utility vehicles that previously received as much as $3,750 are now also ineligible.

Stellantis shares fell as much as 4.5% in Milan. VW's stock declined as much as 1.4% in Frankfurt.

The reclassification, part of President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, tightens domestic sourcing requirements for battery parts and the raw materials used to build them. The number of EVs and plug-in hybrids that currently qualify for a credit is 18 models, down from 22 last year.

Europe's carmakers are bracing for business to get tougher in the US as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office later this month. He has made rescinding Biden's pro-EV initiatives a key plank of his economic platform and threatened tariffs on foreign-made cars.

Stellantis has been plagued by product delays and bloated inventories in the US that led to the ouster of its CEO in late 2024. Jeep's Wrangler and Grand Cherokee plug-in-hybrid SUVs failed to make this year's list, while the group's Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivan again qualified for the full $7,500 credit.

Stellantis also is facing headwinds at home: Its passenger-car production in Italy slumped 46% last year to the lowest level since 1956, amid poor demand for models such as the electric Fiat 500.

VW has long struggled in the US, with its forthcoming Scout line of battery-powered SUVs and pickup trucks touted as a linchpin for expanding market share as growth slows in Europe and competition intensifies in China. The automaker — which is cutting costs in Germany — in November named former Porsche and Rivian executive Kjell Gruner as head of its Americas division to bolster sales there.

The German manufacturer has no model on this year's tax credit list, with its Audi Q5 plug-in-hybrid SUV that previously received as much as $3,750 also missing out.

The list of eligible cars may still grow as some manufacturers have yet to submit information on models that meet the current requirements. New car buyers also face limits on income and vehicle price that can impact access to the aid.