CAE: The new opportunity to make selling electric vehicles profitable at your dealership

At DealerBest, we know that in the automotive sector, efficiency is no longer just a vehicle feature, but a financial tool for dealerships. With the arrival of the Energy Savings Certificate (CAE) system, points of sale now have a new incentive to boost sustainable mobility while also improving their profitability and competitiveness

What exactly is a CAE?

An Energy Savings Certificate (CAE) is an electronic certificate that officially certifies that a final energy saving of 1 kWh has been achieved after carrying out an energy efficiency improvement action. In the case of dealerships, this saving is clearly generated when a customer decides to trade in their old combustion vehicle for a new 100% electric vehicle. What is truly interesting is that this saving can be monetized. In other words, the energy saving becomes an economic value that the buyer can receive as a direct bonus, thus making it easier to close the sale.

How does the process work at the dealership?

The system is designed to be agile and integrates directly into the commercial operation.

The main steps are:

• The customer comes to the dealership interested in a 100% electric model.

• To generate the CAE, it is essential to permanently deregister or sell a combustion vehicle that is registered in the buyer's name. What needs to be demonstrated is that a person decides to stop using their combustion car to switch to an electric one, so they must not keep both vehicles.

• The bonus is around €1000.

What the dealership should know about CAEs

To make the most of this tool, it is essential that dealership staff are familiar with the technical and operational aspects that define the system:

• It is not a traditional subsidy: Unlike common public aid such as the MOVES Plan, the CAE is not a direct subsidy, but rather an electronic document that allows savings to be monetized in a regulated market. This allows the incentive to be, in many cases, more agile than the administrative procedures of public administrations.
• Vehicle requirements: The system is focused exclusively on 100% electric vehicles. Hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles, despite their efficiency, are not currently covered by this energy certification system.
• The mandatory deregistration: For the saving to be certifiable, it is essential that the buyer permanently deregisters or sells a combustion engine vehicle registered in their name for at least one year. If they decide to sell it, it cannot be to a spouse or cohabiting persons, as it would be considered that the use of the combustion car is still in effect for that person.
• Strategic compatibility: One of the biggest commercial advantages is that this bonus is usually compatible with other commercial promotions and, frequently, also with the MOVES Plan, allowing the total savings for the end customer to be maximized.
• Retroactive actions: The system allows certificates to be generated for energy efficiency actions (such as the sale of electric vehicles) carried out since January 26, 2023, provided that no more than 6 months have passed between the deregistration of the used vehicle and the purchase of the new vehicle.
• Certification process: To issue a CAE, it is necessary to obtain a favorable verification opinion from an accredited entity (Energy Savings Verifier), which validates that the documentation is correct and that the real saving has occurred.

At DealerBest we take care of everything

We know that document management and procedures before Verifiers and Regional Managers can be complex. That is why, at DealerBest we fully manage CAEs for your dealership.

As experts in the sector, we carry out all the necessary document management so that certificates are approved without complications.

Do you want to start monetizing the energy savings from your electric vehicle sales? Contact us and find out how we can help you turn efficiency into immediate profitability for your business.

Do you want to start monetizing the energy savings from your sales?

Contact us and find out how we can help you turn efficiency into profitability.

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