After Renault and Stellantis, foreign manufacturers are in turn launching into social leasing, a system that allows you to rent a new electric vehicle for between 50 and 150 euros per month. And this, thanks to a government subsidy of 13,000 euros per vehicle.
Yesterday, Hyundai recalled the entry of the electric Kona, its SUV benefiting from an ecological bonus, during the brand’s wishes. ” We have 500 orders since launch, that is in 10 days. This corresponds to half of our Kona sales during the same period. », mentioned the president of Hyundai France, Lionel French Keogh. The price of this car is 95 euros per month.
Today, it’s the Volkswagen Group’s turn to officially announce its entry into the system. Total, 4 models Should be offered in late January, from small Volkswagen E-UP (89 euros per month) to Skoda Anyak SUV (149 euros), incl. Volkswagen ID.3 and Kapra Born (109 Euros).
Offers that complement Renault models: Twingo E-Tech 40 euros per month, ZOE E-Tech 100 euros per month and Mégane E-Tech and Kangoo E-Tech 150 euros per month. Stellantis remains the leader with no less than 9 models offered in the system, including the Citroen C3 at 54 euros per month, the Fiat 500 at 49 euros per month, the Peugeot E-208 at 99 euros per month or even the Jeep Avenger. and the Peugeot E-2008 at 149 euros per month. As soon as the device was announced on December 15, two French manufacturers released their models.
French manufacturers benefited
The late arrival of foreign manufacturers in social leasing is difficult to explain. On the one hand, Volkswagen and Hyundai are surprised by the speed of their competitors to offer models immediately after the implementation of social leasing:
” First, we had a long discussion with the government. It takes 10 to 15 days longer than French manufacturers », launched Lionel French Keogh on Tuesday.
“We waited till December 15 to get official information. I think some had information upstream,” Xavier Chardon added this morning.Chairman of the Board of Directors of Volkswagen France.
On the government side, we assure that without going into details, discussions were held with all manufacturers with cars that could be included in social leasing. This time difference can affect file access, as it is first-come-first-served.
How far will requests go?
Since its launch in mid-December, the system has been a huge success. With more than 90,000 requests on the government platform and an influx that is confirmed in concessions, brands have confirmed, the French have rushed to help, especially young people and large families. As a reminder, to benefit from it, you must have a reference tax income of less than 15,400 euros, drive more than 8,000 km per year or live more than 15 km from your workplace.
Initially, social leasing was provided for 25,000 beneficiary vehicles. Christophe Bechu, Minister of Ecological Transition, announced that PAbout 35,000 customers have already come forward. ” We talk to dealers. We are in the process of integrating these availability ” For the moment, no vehicle ceiling has been established, but it is difficult to believe that Bursa will accept an infinite increase in the number of financed vehicles.
This is how the first manufacturers were able to capture the first requests and thus get their start. But no worries for Volkswagen, which assures that customers can also change their minds and order other brands from now on.
