Subsidies for Safety Support Cars Included inFY2019 Supplementary Budget Draft

1. Outline of the subsidies for safety support cars

The government of Japan decided to include the Subsidies for Safety Support Cars in FY2019 Supplementary Budget Draft. These subsidies aim to support elderly drivers aged 65 or older in purchasing safety support cars in which a collision damage mitigation braking system or an acceleration control system that responds to drivers’ mis-operation of the acceleration pedal is installed to prevent accidents amongst elderly drivers.

These subsidies will be granted to the following projects to be conducted by private associations and other organizations (hereinafter referred to as “operators of the projects”). The aim is to promote the introduction of vehicles with built-in safety functions that can allow for safer driving amongst the elderly.

2. Targets to be subsidized

(1) Projects for supporting target drivers in introducing safety support cars

• Target vehicles to be subsidized
  Vehicles in which [i] a collision damage mitigation braking system or [ii] an acceleration control system responding to drivers’ mis-operation of the acceleration pedal is installed and which satisfy either of the following requirements:
  A. Vehicles in which [i] and [ii] are installed; or
  B. Vehicles in which [i] is installed.
• Target purchasers to be subsidized
  Elderly drivers who are or will be aged 65 or older by the end of FY2019*
• Amount of the subsidies per applicant
  A. For vehicles on which [i] and [ii] are mounted:
  Newly registered vehicles: 100,000 yen; light motor vehicles: 70,000 yen; and used vehicles: 40,000 yen
  B. For vehicles in which [i] is installed:
  Newly registered vehicles: 60,000 yen; light motor vehicles: 30,000 yen; and used vehicles: 20,000 yen

(2) Projects for supporting target drivers in introducing a safety support device for aftermarket installation

• Target devices to be subsidized
  Acceleration control systems responding to drivers’ mis-operation of the acceleration pedal, for aftermarket installation
• Targets to be subsidized
  Businesses to sell such systems to elderly drivers who are or will be aged 65 or older by the end of FY2019*
• Amount of the subsidies per applicant
  Acceleration control systems with a function for detecting obstacles: 40,000 yen
  Acceleration control systems with no function for detecting obstacles: 20,000 yen

*Note: These subsidies also cover businesses that have been employing elderly drivers who are or will be aged 65 or older by the end of FY2019.

3. Points of attention for the subsidies

• Regarding the specifics of the subsidies, namely target types and grades of vehicles (newly registered vehicles and used vehicles) and target acceleration control systems responding to drivers’ mis-operation of the acceleration pedal for aftermarket installation, an Examination Committee on the Subsidies for Safety Support Cars (tentative name), a body that METI will inaugurate, will decide on and release them after examination.
• The period of providing the subsidies will be announced immediately after it is fixed.
• Immediately after the establishment of the Supplementary Budget, METI will decide on operators of the projects and, following this, start the acceptance of applications for the subsidies. Please note that these operators of the projects will release the details of their projects as well as necessary procedures for filing an application for the subsidies.

Division in Charge

Automobile Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau