Toyota Vélo Cargo at €99/month: More expensive than a Dacia Spring

The first cargo bike born from the collaboration between Toyota and Douze Cycles is finally available at dealerships for a rather hefty price.

99 euros / month for 48 months, after an initial fee of 1000 euros. You’re not reading a brochure for an electric car, Dacia Spring or MG4, whose prices are even more affordable. No, this is the leasing scenario with a purchase option (LOA) for the very first cargo bike to be included in Toyota’s catalog.

Originally, this Cargo, which is merely a customized version (colors and logo) of a product designed and manufactured by Douze Cycles in Dijon, was intended for businesses. An additional – and smart – tool tailored to current needs and expectations, as some urban artisans no longer find it relevant to own a van given how complicated traffic and parking are during interventions.

Since then, Toyota has decided to extend this offer to private individuals with two purchase options:

• Outright purchase at 6,190 euros
• LOA (Lease with Purchase Option) for 49 months with an initial payment of 1000 euros, followed by 48 monthly payments of 99 euros. At the end of the term, the purchase option will be an additional 1,990 euros, resulting in a total cost of exactly… 7,742 euros.

Like a car with an LOA, the mileage is limited to 20,000 km, or about 4,000 km / year… or 10 km per day. That’s very little, especially for a vehicle meant to carry passengers potentially during eco-friendly vacations, etc.

In the end, this offer seems quite expensive, especially considering other options available on the market. In Paris, Véligo Biporteur starts at 40 euros / month with 50% subsidy by the employer, which is obligated to contribute to public transportation costs. And Véligo is considered by public authorities as a form of public transport…

To reduce the cost, the only solution is to negotiate with your employer, for the payment of a Sustainable Mobility Allowance up to 700 euros annually. But in any case, it will remain costly.

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