The Finnish Parliament has approved a law that will allow the state to pay rebates to people who turn in their old cars and buy new, lower-emission vehicles.
Thursday's vote was 124-40, with 35 MPs absent.
Now, the programme, commonly referred to as a 'cash-for-clunkers' arrangement, enables new car buyers to apply for the rebates right away.
To qualify, the used vehicles must be at least 10 years old and taken to a recycling centre.
If owners of old cars replace them with a fully electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle, they will receive 2,500 euros towards the purchase.
If the new vehicle has a carbon dioxide emission level below 140 grams/km, buyers will be granted 2,000 euros for the purchase.
The programme's period of eligibility began retroactively at the beginning of October and it is set to continue until the end of 2027.
The average age of cars on the road in Finland is the highest in the Nordic countries, 13.6 years. The average age in Sweden, Norway and Denmark ranges between 9.6 and 11.1 years.
