A surge in the sale of energy-efficient cars cost the government €1.3bn in lost tax income last year, the national statistics office CBS said on Wednesday.

Last year consumers and companies bought 206,000 cars that were exempt from vehicle tax (bpm) because they were considered to be green. The figure is 3.5 times higher than in 2009.
In 2009, the tax was not levied on 15% of new cars, but last year the figure rose to 37%, costing the treasury €1.3bn in lost tax receipts.
Meanwhile, the number of new motorbikes bought in the Netherlands last year reached 11,0000, well down on 2008’s record 17,000. Some 70% of Dutch motorbike riders are over the age of 40 and getting older, the CBS said.