In FY2026 (Reiwa 8), Kochi Prefecture is running an EV subsidy scheme that is rare nationwide for being "kei-EV-first": while regular EVs get 200,000 yen, kei (light) EVs get 300,000 yen — more than regular cars — with 1,000,000 yen for FCVs and even 70,000 yen for electric motorcycles. Applications are being accepted under a total budget of 254 million yen (until the end of January 2027, first come, first served). A key point is that filing an application for the national CEV subsidy is a mandatory requirement, and purchases are limited to dealers within the prefecture. For a kei EV, combined national and prefectural support can reach around 880,000 yen.
Think of Kochi's EV subsidies as a "three-tier" structure
CEV subsidy (the main pillar)
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.
Kei EV 300,000 yen > regular EV 200,000 yen
The prefectural subsidy pays 300,000 yen for kei EVs, 200,000 yen for regular EVs, 200,000 yen for PHVs, 1,000,000 yen for FCVs, and 70,000 yen for electric motorcycles. Applications open under a 254-million-yen budget.
No separate subsidy in Kochi City
No Kochi City subsidy for individuals could be confirmed. For city residents, the basic combination is "national CEV + prefecture".
[National] CEV Subsidy under the FY2025 Supplementary Budget (registrations from April 2026; the main pillar)
"Up to 1.3 million yen" is a cap. The actual amount is set per model based on assessments such as the vehicle's environmental performance. 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). Subsidized vehicles carry a holding obligation of 4 years in principle — disposing of the car within that period may require repayment. Check the exact subsidy amount for your car in 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.
[Kochi Prefecture] Kei EVs get the most: the "Electric Vehicle Adoption Promotion Subsidy"
| Category | Prefectural subsidy |
|---|---|
| Kei EV | 300,000 yen (kei-first design — higher than regular EVs) |
| EV (regular car) | 200,000 yen |
| PHV | 200,000 yen |
| FCV | 1,000,000 yen |
| Electric motorcycles, etc. | 70,000 yen |
The main requirements are: an individual residing in the prefecture (including sole proprietors) or a company with an office in the prefecture; first registration (new car) on or after April 1, 2026; having filed an application for the national CEV subsidy; and purchase from a business with its head office or a branch in the prefecture. Applications are accepted from July 21, 2026 to January 31, 2027, and close once the total budget of 254 million yen is used up.
The kei-EV preference reflects the reality of regional life, where kei cars are the everyday means of transport. For a kei EV, combined with the national CEV subsidy (up to 580,000 yen), support can reach around 880,000 yen.
[Municipalities] No separate subsidy in Kochi City — combine "national + prefecture"
No FY2026 EV purchase subsidy for individuals could be confirmed for Kochi City. For Kochi City residents, the basic setup is the two-tier combination of the national CEV subsidy + the prefectural subsidy. There are reports of independent subsidies in some towns and villages, but none could be officially confirmed, so check the official website of your municipality.
Because the prefectural subsidy requires "purchase from a dealer within the prefecture", buying from an out-of-prefecture dealer or through a fully online purchase may make you ineligible. Confirm the dealer's location at the quotation stage.
Also check EV "taxes" (automobile tax reductions)
Separately 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 following year's automobile tax (type-based levy) is reduced by roughly 75% under the green tax special measure. See details in EV taxes and the 2026 automobile tax reform.
Are subsidies taxable?
EV subsidies received by individuals are treated as occasional income (ichiji shotoku). Because there is a special deduction of 500,000 yen per year, no tax arises if your occasional income, combined with any other occasional income, stays at or below 500,000 yen for the year. National and municipal subsidies combined usually stay within this, but be careful about the total in a year when you receive multiple large subsidies. Business use is treated differently — consult a tax accountant.
FAQ
Q. Why is the subsidy higher for kei EVs?
A. The prefecture's design prioritizes the spread of kei EVs, in line with the regional reality that kei cars are the main means of everyday transport. At 300,000 yen, Kochi's kei EV subsidy is among the highest of any prefecture in Japan.
Summary
- Kochi Prefecture's subsidy is ¥300,000 for kei EVs, ¥200,000 for standard EVs, ¥200,000 for PHVs, ¥1,000,000 for FCVs and ¥70,000 for EV motorcycles and similar vehicles.
- Applications run from July 21, 2026 to January 31, 2027, closing once the total budget of ¥254,000,000 is reached.
- Requirements are applying for the national CEV subsidy and buying from a dealer with a head office or branch in the prefecture.
- For a kei EV, combined with the national CEV subsidy (up to ¥580,000), the total can reach about ¥880,000.
- No separate Kochi City subsidy could be confirmed, so the basic setup is the national CEV subsidy plus the prefectural subsidy.
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Reference links (sources)
Note: Subsidy amounts, requirements, and application status are as of September 2026. Programs may end early depending on budget consumption. Always check the latest information on each official website before applying.