Opel is offloading its electric Corsa… but we don’t know where!

Opel offers a particularly attractive deal until the end of the month, promoted across various communication channels. But not in real life?

Before going any further, here is the promise: “An exclusive offer: Until January 31, 2025, the Opel Corsa Electric is available immediately starting at €149 per month through leasing with purchase option (LOA), under certain conditions.”

Until January 31, 2025, the Opel Corsa Electric is therefore offered from €149 per month as part of a Lease with Purchase Option (LOA). The first issue is that, under an LOA, at the end of the contract there is an offer to buy back the vehicle, though the amount is not specified. The initial deposit is shown as €5,500, but this depends on income conditions. In plain terms, €4,000 of the bonus is deducted if you can justify a low taxable income, less than or equal to €16,300 per tax share. Otherwise, it’s €2,000 with an upfront payment increasing to €7,500.

The offer emphasizes the immediate availability of this iconic model, so it’s likely limited to cars in stock, but this is not very clear. Is this why Opel indicates it’s a “conditional” offer? No details are provided; the manufacturer invites interested customers to visit its dealerships to learn more. Lacking time, we decide to check Opel’s French website for more details.

Right from the homepage, this offer is prominently highlighted. It is a long-term rental (LLD) over 36 months and 30,000 km for a new Opel Corsa Electric 136 hp 100 kW, excluding options, with an initial payment of €9,500 reduced to €5,500 after deducting the ecological bonus of up to €4,000, followed by 35 payments of €149, including roadside assistance and extended warranty for 36 months. Everything is clear, but just below it states: “Offer conditionally available upon trade-in of vehicle!” Darn, you need to not earn much money and have a car to trade in to take advantage of this offer. That’s starting to be a lot. Another issue—LOA has turned into LLD, so you can no longer buy back the car at the end of 36 months… this makes things a bit confusing. When clicking “Available Immediately,” we discover there’s a condition to trade in a vehicle to benefit from a €1,500 discount. Clicking again on “Take Advantage of the Offer,” we are led to a form to contact a dealership. End of the digital process: we didn’t find the car of our dreams, and we don’t even know if it exists.

This more playful than informative experience clearly shows that consumers still need to be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true. We’re not criticizing Opel in particular, which, like many other manufacturers—mostly European—makes similar claims. Visit the sites of Tesla and MG, and you’ll get all the details immediately, without asterisks or conditions. Particularly with Stellantis, accessing precise information remains tedious, due to poor navigation and unclear conditions. Perhaps the simplest solution would be to stop disguising offers with conditions that complicate consumers’ lives.

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