The Great Deception of Fiat, Peugeot, and Opel Concerning Prices

The Stellantis group claims to already sell three cars for less than 130 euros per month, including the Fiat 500e at 99 euros. Unfortunately, that is not entirely true.

President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday, September 25, 2023, the implementation of a social leasing in the form of rental with a purchase option at 100 euros per month for an electric car. This project is conditional on income, but without grants or contributions, and is one of the flagship measures of the French ecological planning. This campaign promise dates back to 2022 and has been repeatedly postponed. Now based on both social and ecological foundations, it should finally come to fruition very soon.

Seizing the opportunity, the Stellantis Group enthusiastically promotes its three major brands Fiat, Opel, and Peugeot, which are already embracing accessible electric mobility. A little analysis of a claim that sounds too good to be true.

What is TRUE

The Fiat 500e, Opel Corsa-e, and Peugeot E-208 are three excellent cars available for Long-Term Rental or Lease Purchase at affordable prices. In their basic finishes, all three are attractive both in design and features.

All three are eligible for the €5,000 Ecological Bonus, making their offers much more attractive than outright purchases. Manufacturers have every reason to promote this, but it must be done honestly, without directly competing with the upcoming social leasing scheme.

Why it’s too good to be true

Let’s first take the example of Fiat. The Italian manufacturer’s communications are unambiguous: “Beyond being just a car, the new 500 electric is presented as a social project serving sustainable and truly accessible mobility.”. The parallel with social leasing is clear and acknowledged. Now, about the famous €99 per month offer: The entry-level model features a 23.8 kWh urban battery offering up to 190 km of range in WLTP mixed cycle, a 90 hp (70 kW) electric motor, and impeccable equipment. Perfect. It is a Lease with Purchase Option for 37 months, 30,000 km, with zero down payment. This is very good. It includes the €5,000 ecological bonus, a €2,000 subsidy from the manufacturer, and… the €2,500 Conversion Premium for scrapping an gasoline car registered before 2006 or a Diesel registered before 2011. If you have nothing to scrap, this premium can be added to the monthly rent, which then rises to €166.50! Everything is transparent and clearly written, but is it respectful of consumers?

At Peugeot, they announce about €130 per month for renting an older model E-208 in the Like trim, with an initial payment of €3,150 including a €1,500 conversion bonus!. For the new E-208, the cost is approximately €342 per month with a €6,650 down payment.

Finally, we previously detailed the case of the new Opel Corsa, which is completely nonsensical: a traditional model is half the price of its electric version. The basic Long-Duration Lease offer at €150 per month requires a €3,500 down payment and a €2,000 conversion bonus. In a 48-month Lease-to-Own (LOA) with no down payment, the monthly cost again exceeds €300, which is twice the promising figure.

Why not be transparent?

This promotional communication makes the offers appear dazzling, but the shiny veneer doesn’t withstand even a moment’s scrutiny once you read the conditions. When attempting to directly compete with a commercial offer, it must be done under strictly similar conditions. Otherwise, it’s just advertising the cars’ merits, something all three brands are capable of doing without blushing in front of competitors. It’s disappointing and frustrating because these three excellent cars truly do not need such sleight of hand.