Fuel subsidy launches in Berlin as drivers remain sceptical

The federal government's new fuel subsidy, the so-called Tankrabatt, came into force on October 1, 2026, lowering the energy tax on petrol and diesel in response to record pump prices. Berliner Zeitung reporters spoke with drivers at petrol stations across the capital and found a mixture of disillusionment and cautious hope. Several motorists complained that the discount of a few cents per litre barely reached customers because stations immediately raised base prices, and demanded instead a permanent cut in energy or VAT taxes. Commuters from the outskirts, delivery drivers and taxi operators, who depend heavily on fuel, welcomed any relief but doubted it would last. Consumer advocates called on the Federal Cartel Office to monitor the mineral oil companies closely to make sure the tax cut is actually passed on. The subsidy is initially limited and part of a broader federal package aimed at cushioning households against inflation this autumn.