When you buy an electric vehicle (EV) in Kyoto Prefecture, where does the subsidy come from? The conclusion for the 2026 fiscal year (Reiwa 8) in Kyoto: "neither the prefecture nor Kyoto City has a purchase subsidy for individuals — you combine the national CEV subsidy (up to ¥1.3 million for an EV) with top-ups from some municipalities such as Uji City." Kyoto City's support centers on point rewards for solar power and V2H (Kyoto Renewable Energy Club), and for the vehicle itself the flagship is Uji City's ¥150,000. This article organizes how to use the national and municipal programs, and the application caveats, with 2026 fiscal year information.
Think of Kyoto's EV subsidy as "two tiers"
CEV subsidy (the lead role in purchases)
A national subsidy available to both individuals and corporations. The FY2025 supplementary-budget round (registrations from April 2026) offers the largest amounts, such as up to 1.3 million yen for EVs.
Uji City is accepting applications for ¥150,000
Uji City offers ¥150,000 for EVs, PHVs, and FCVs. The condition is applying within 6 months after the national CEV subsidy grant is finalized.
No purchase subsidy from the prefecture or Kyoto City
The prefecture has no purchase subsidy for individuals. Kyoto City has no vehicle subsidy either; point rewards for solar and V2H are the axis of its support.
[National] CEV Subsidy under the FY2025 Supplementary Budget (registrations from April 2026; the main pillar)
"Up to ¥1.3 million" is a cap. The subsidy amount is decided for each vehicle type by an evaluation of the vehicle's environmental performance and the like. Applications close once the budget runs out. On September 4 the secretariat announced that it expects to stop accepting applications around early to late December 2026 (applications are taken in order of arrival, and intake ends the day before the budget is reached; secretariat notice, PDF, in Japanese). A subsidized car carries an obligation to keep it for 4 years in principle; if you dispose of it within that period, repayment may be required. Check the exact subsidy amount for the car you are buying against the amounts published by the Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center.
For the full picture of the CEV subsidy and the situation nationwide, see our guide to EV subsidies in all 47 prefectures.
[Kyoto Prefecture] No prefectural subsidy for individuals — Kyoto City has no vehicle subsidy either
Kyoto Prefecture's official page centers on charging-infrastructure information, and there is no EV purchase subsidy for individuals. Kyoto City has no vehicle-purchase subsidy of its own either; its support takes the form of guidance to the national CEV subsidy plus point rewards under the "Kyoto Renewable Energy Club" covering solar power, V2H, and the like (worth up to ¥200,000; the content changes by fiscal year, so check the city's official site for the latest).
Thinking of it as a division of roles — "the national government for the vehicle itself, the city for home equipment" — is the Kyoto way. For a comparison with the Tokyo area, see the Tokyo EV subsidy guide.
[Municipalities] Uji City offers ¥150,000 for EVs, PHVs, and FCVs
| City | Status in the 2026 fiscal year |
|---|---|
| Uji City | Accepting applications: ¥150,000 for EVs, PHVs, and FCVs (ZEV Promotion Subsidy). The vehicle's base of use must be in Uji City, and the application must be filed within 6 months after the national CEV subsidy grant is finalized. Applications accepted until March 15, 2027 (first come, first served; budget cap applies). The quota was expanded from 80 cases in FY2025 to 110 cases in FY2026 |
| Kyoto City | No vehicle-purchase subsidy (point rewards for solar and V2H are the center) |
The biggest caveat with Uji City's subsidy is that it "presupposes the national CEV subsidy being granted," with an application deadline of 6 months from grant finalization. Work backward from your delivery date and the national subsidy schedule to plan your application.
Check the "tax" on EVs too (reductions in automobile tax)
Apart from subsidies, the environmental performance levy of the automobile tax was abolished on March 31, 2026, and it is not charged on vehicles acquired on or after April 1, 2026 (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Taxation, in Japanese). For EVs, the automobile tax (by classification) for the following fiscal year is reduced by roughly 75% under the greening special provision. For details, see EV taxes and the 2026 automobile tax reform.
Is a subsidy taxed?
An EV subsidy an individual receives is treated as occasional income. There is a ¥500,000 annual special deduction, so it is not taxed as long as the total with your other occasional income stays within ¥500,000 for the year. National and local subsidies combined usually fit within this, but in a year when you receive several large subsidies, watch the combined total. Business use is treated differently — consult a tax accountant or the like.
Summary
- Neither Kyoto Prefecture nor Kyoto City offers a purchase subsidy for individual buyers. The national CEV subsidy (up to ¥1.3 million for EVs) is the main support.
- Uji City gives ¥150,000 for EVs, PHVs, and FCVs. Apply within 6 months after the national CEV subsidy is confirmed; applications are accepted until March 15, 2027.
- Kyoto City's support centers on point rebates for solar power and V2H systems (Kyoto Renewable Energy Club).
- The national CEV subsidy is expected to close applications sometime from early to late December 2026. The holding obligation is 4 years in principle.
- Subsidies count as occasional income. They are not taxed if they stay within the ¥500,000 annual special deduction.
Reference links (sources)
* Subsidy amounts, requirements, and application status are as of August 2026. Programs may end early depending on budget consumption. Always check the latest information on each official site before applying.
