The End of Social Leasing 2024 Is Near!

The success of the Electric Leasing program finally launched this year was expected, but certainly not on such a scale.

The platform set up to collect applications for the allocation of a discounted electric car within the framework of “social leasing” has been overwhelmed. 50,000 households have ordered a low-cost electric vehicle, far exceeding the government’s predictions. To recall, only 25,000 vehicles were initially expected to be available in year one. “We had actually reserved 25,000 vehicles and I can tell you that I have recontacted the manufacturers“, explained the Minister for Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher in early January.

This message was not lost on deaf ears, as Renault and the brands of the Stellantis Group—Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, and Opel—immediately confirmed their readiness to provide more vehicles. Volkswagen, Hyundai, and CUPRA, to name a few, announced their willingness, giving the list of eligible vehicles a vibe of an auto show.

A Promise, a Lease

Campaign promise from Emmanuel Macron, this program aimed at the most modest households is designed to grant them access to electric mobility. It involves a leasing with an option to buy (LOA) at less than 100 euros per month for small urban vehicles and 150 euros per month for family cars. The state will provide an initial contribution of 13,000 euros. To conduct an initial screening, priority will go to individuals who can demonstrate a professional activity requiring the regular use of a car for at least 8,000 kilometers per year or a daily commute of at least 15 km to their workplace without direct alternatives using public transportation. The tax income per unit should not exceed 15,400 euros to qualify for this program.

At this stage, the government no longer seems able to fund new vehicles and will likely have no choice but to officially end the 2024 batch in the coming days. A piece of advice, hurry up and register!!!