The life of pickup trucks in France is not easy. Long considered SUVs with the tax advantages this created, manufacturers have been quick to close the gap to offer several new models in recent years.

So, and therein lies the paradox, at a time when pollution protection standards are becoming increasingly restrictive, several brands have launched pickups for the French market in recent years. The government then responded by resetting some cursors at that level by excluding certain configurations from the tax benefits they could enjoy.

However, even today, certain manufacturers continue to offer alternatives to circumvent various taxes. Between the conversion to a passenger cabin with four seats (instead of the usual five) and the N1 approval, where at least 30% of the interior volume is dedicated to loading, we could still afford a new pickup without leaving the government behind.

Fine(s) are payable

But the French government decided to introduce new changes by 2024, once again strengthening the criteria. Simply put, if certain models managed to avoid the penalty due to a certain configuration, only real utilities will be exempt from fines in the French market.

Thus, double cab models will also be considered “classic” cars and will no longer escape the environmental penalty or even the weight penalty. This means that the Volkswagen Amarok we recently tested on Auto Plus is already doomed to 2024, even though it has only just been launched.

For what ? Because it doesn’t have the benefits (yet?) of the single-cab or king-cab versions, the two configurations that will avoid taxes. It should be noted that its technical cousin, the Ford Ranger, is available in three body styles, including the last two. As a result, it will continue to be offered in France, even if its double-cab version will largely mark the time from a commercial point of view.

What are the solutions for pickup trucks?

Returning to the double-cab versions and the Volkswagen Amarok, in 2024 it will be eligible a fine of 60,000 euros, an amount to be added to the €53,700 claimed for the base model. In other words, buying a double-seater Amarok in 2024 will cost the same as a Porsche 911 GT3 ten years ago.

Faced with this penalty for the looming four-seat pickup truck, manufacturers will have several options. The first, and the simplest, is to hope that exemptions will remain in place for certain occupations that require recruitment, such as in the mountains or in the forestry sector. This will allow the new Amarok to continue to be marketed commercially, even if it will be much more limited.

The second is to modify certain elements of its model, but Volkswagen is limited by production standards. Indeed, the Amarok is produced alongside the Ford Ranger in South Africa, and the brand cannot modify the product at will for the single market and the evolution of its taxation.

The third will offer hybrid or 100% electric versions. The Ford Ranger will soon be offered as a PHEV, and the Amarok may also follow, as they are based on the same base. Currently, the American-accented German pickup has a 3.0-liter TDI V6 with a capacity of 240 hp. or a four-cylinder 2.0-liter TDI with a capacity of 204 hp. As for electricity, the only more or less reliable alternative seems to be the Tesla Cybertruck, which we are still waiting for.

In addition, as in the case of Volkswagen before, the brand turned to French coachbuilder Gruau for a four-seater redesign of its pickup truck. approve a five-seater vehicle as a four-seater and avoid VAT and fines. But this rule change will change everything, and not just for the Volkswagen Amarok, as it applies to all double-cab pickups.

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