Alright, let me try to get some structure to this (Fair warning: I'm not a native Dane, so I might miss a nuance).
The way I understand the situation is:
Previously the situation was:
a) For EVs below DKK 800.000: As of 1st of January the tax increase for all EVs - they will need to pay 20% of the "up to 180% registration tax" for 2016, that will increase by 20% to the full "100% of the 180% in 2020" - essentially a step-wise introduction
b) For EVs above DKK 800.000 (i.e. for Teslas only - there are not other EVs that would fall into this braket): There is not step-wise introduction and the full 180% tax applies as of January 1st 2016.
The situation as of now is:
a) remains in place
b) is removed - also expensive Teslas get the step-wise introduction of the full tax burden until 2020 - so a) applies for cars >800k DKK, too.
This will still make the Model S significantly more expensive as of next year.
So it still made sense to import used cars from all over Europe and it still made sense to buy a Tesla this year. It is just a relief of taxes on the 85D and above.
This example of political corruption brought to you by the Oil, Industrial Gas and ICE Auto industry. Collectively, the Fuel Cell Lobby:
H2 LOGIC Welcomes Danish Extension of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Tax Exemption | FuelCellsWorks
H2 LOGIC Welcomes Danish Extension of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Tax Exemption
author Added by FuelCellsWorks, November 06, 2015
The Danish Government has announced a political agreement on extending the present tax exemption of FCEV’s for an additional three years throughout 2018. In addition the Government will gradually introduce taxes on BEV’s based on vehicle efficiency and price, thus mainly taxing high-end BEV’s with long driving range. The Danish tax regime pioneers a relevant political targeting of battery and fuel cell technologies to address different vehicle market segments.
In Denmark up to 180% registration tax and 25% VAT is normally applied on the base vehicle price meaning that a €17.000 gasoline vehicle reaches a total consumer price of more than €50.000. The FCEV tax exemption therefore provides a substantial indirect price-subsidy that makes the technology almost price competitive with gasoline today in Denmark.
In addition H2 Logic in collaboration with oil and gas companies are active on establishing a countrywide network of hydrogen fueling stations across Denmark. Today seven hydrogen fueling stations are in operation in Denmark, and with additional four planned onwards 2016 more than 50% of the population will be within convenient reach of hydrogen fueling.
The Danish tax exemption for BEV’s and FCEV’s has been in place since 2012 and was set to expire by end of 2015. The political negotiations on a possible extension was complicated by the massive sale in Denmark of high-end BEV’s with long range, that due to high battery cost and thus vehicle price indirectly caused a substantial loss of tax revenues.
The new decided Danish tax regime for BEV’s and FCEV’s is pioneering an alignment with the technology approach of the major car manufacturers. Batteries are targeted for use in smaller vehicles where short range and long charging time is accepted, whereas fuel cells are targeted for larger vehicles where range and fueling time are to match that of gasoline.
From 2016 BEV’s in Denmark will be taxed depending on the vehicle efficiency and size, thus incentivizing use of batteries in smaller vehicles where shorter range helps to lower the price and thus the loss of tax revenues. The continued exemption of FCEV’s will instead incentivize use of fuel cells for larger vehicles with long range, where cost reduction potential is greater as the high cost and thus loss of tax revenue from a long-range battery is avoided.
Jacob Krogsgaard, CEO of H2 Logic states:
“H2 Logic welcomes the continued Danish tax exemption for FCEV’s. This will ensure Denmark as one of the countries in the world with the best FCEV incentives. For H2 Logic the hydrogen fueling station network in Denmark will continue to be a strong showcase and platform for export of our technology to other countries. The pioneering Danish tax differentiation between BEV’s and FCEV’s will also incentivize that the technologies are targeted for their relevant vehicle market segments.”