None of the current Spanish ministers publicly claim any direct authority over mobility policies, even as the National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) sets ambitious goals for private electric vehicle usage. In practice, several ministers drive older, more polluting cars, with an average age around a dozen years. The draft PNIEC update notes a target of 5.5 million electric vehicles in Spain by 2030, while the Climate Change Act pushes many cities to implement low emission zones (ZBE) that restrict traffic in areas where ministers personally travel using their private cars.
Data drawn from property declarations submitted to the Congress shows that ministers with private vehicles do not own electric cars, and only a handful can move without formal restrictions in the jurisdictions where their vehicles are listed. AutoScout24, a second-hand vehicle portal operated by Sumauto, is cited as the basis for this analysis.
Ministers’ cars and the environmental footprint of public office travel are a recurring topic, with some municipalities already implementing ZBEs or movement restrictions. Programs such as Madrid360 exist, but many ministerial vehicles labeled ECO or ZERO remain uncommon. Such labels would paradoxically shield vehicles from certain traffic restrictions imposed by the administration itself.
Cars up to 23 years old
In public discussions, some leaders of the Labour Party have disclosed ownership of older models such as a 2014 Volkswagen Golf and a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan, both without ECO labeling, meaning they would face standard restrictions in cities like A Coruña where the residence is listed.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Ecological Transition disclosed a Peugeot 307 hybrid from 2007, a Peugeot 5008 from 2011, and a Renault Clio hybrid from 2023. Among these, only the Clio, with its ECO badge, could move freely in Madrid and the Balearic Islands without facing the usual traffic limitations.
Isabel Rodríguez, the Minister of Regional Policy, owns a 2006 Seat Ibiza and a 2010 Volkswagen Passat. Since the declarations do not specify fuel type for either vehicle, they may bear B or C labeling depending on the model.
Rachel Sanchez in Transportation, with a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan and a home in Gavà, Pilar Alegría in Education with a 2014 Renault Clio and homes in Zaragoza and Castellón, and Hector Gómez in Industry with a 2017 Mercedes GLA, along with three other ministers who own homes in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, can generally travel with their private vehicles according to their declared residences.
According to the same source, the most polluting car belongs to the Finance Minister, María Jesús Montero, who lists a 2000 Nissan Primera, a 23-year-old vehicle without an environmental label. The second oldest and most polluting car is associated with the Defense Minister, Margaret Robles, who drives a 2002 Hyundai Getz, also lacking an environmental badge. The third oldest belongs to the head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, with a 2011 Volvo S80 that could carry a C label if fuel is not specified and a gasoline configuration, or a B label if diesel is used.
Officials Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Felix Bolanos publicized vehicles for 2015, including a BMW 5 Series and a Nissan X-Trail, both categorized with a C label and therefore subject to restricted circulation. The Deputy Prime Minister and various heads of foreign affairs, science and innovation, culture, social rights, and health indicated they do not currently own a vehicle.
Overall, the landscape shows a mix of older private cars and selective use of ECO or ZERO labels in practice, highlighting a tension between public travel expectations and the environmental goals set out in national policy. This assessment relies on declared vehicle data and the labeling schemes described in the PNIEC and related climate policy instruments.
Notes and data interpretations are drawn from public declarations and contemporary analyses collected by automotive and media sources, with cross-referencing by industry experts to ensure consistency in model years, labels, and geographic applicability. These sources are used to illuminate how ministerial mobility aligns with or diverges from formal climate targets and traffic regulations enacted by the executive and regional authorities.
In evaluating the environmental impact of ministerial travel, it is important to consider not only the age and labeling of the vehicles but also the broader policy framework guiding urban mobility, emissions reductions, and the balance between private mobility and public duty. The conversation continues as new vehicle models enter service and as cities expand their low emission zones in response to evolving climate commitments.
References for the data cited herein are drawn from official declarations and industry reporting, with attribution to Automotive and European press coverage where applicable, and to the PNIEC and Climate Change Act for policy context.