Thousands of diesel-powered cars with low emission rates will no longer be privy to excise duty exemptions, reports daily Greek newspaper Eleftheros Typos. 1.6 engine cars bought over the last five years are now being targeted in the government’s frantic drive to scrape money. The move, if applied, will affect 150,000 car owners. Furthermore, other changes to car regulations could see most car owners paying an additional 30-200 euros in car taxes per annum. This means that there will be extra taxes on people who own hybrid and electric cars as well as those who have gas-powered cars of over 1.8 engine capacity that were bought over the last five-year period.

From November 2011, a number of Greeks turned to Diesel-powered cars due to a ban on gas-guzzling vehicles. This move benefited the environment but saw a slump in gas-powered car purchases that dropped in relation to Diesel-powered cars (2011 diesel:gas was at 7,349:80,986, whereas in 2012 diesel:gas was at 20,877:32,540) in a continuing spiral that continues to today.