Social leasing catches the French Government by surprise with an avalanche of applications.
The French Government promised electric cars from 54 euros per month to expand the implementation of these vehicles in the country. The measure has raised all kinds of doubts for months and many drivers were skeptical since most models could be left out of the aid.
The reality is that very few cars can be eligible to receive aid from the French Government since the vehicles must have been manufactured in Europe and have a price of less than 47,000 euros. This is one more indirect measure to limit the arrival of electric cars from large producers like China.
France has added another condition to the fine print: the buyer must choose the version with the least powerful engine. The aid is limited to drivers with incomes of less than 15,400 euros or family units with a dependent child that do not exceed 39,600 euros, and they must prove that they travel more than 8,000 km a year or that their job is 15 kilometers from their home. usual, according to Xataka.
The Government finances up to a maximum of 13,000 euros for each lease with installments that start from 54 euros/month for the Renault Twingo to the highest of 149 euros/month for the Jeep Avenger and the Peugeot e-2008. In the intermediate prices there are models such as the Fiat 500e, the Opel Corsa e, the Citroën ë-C3 and the Opel Mokka.
The French Government did not expect so many drivers to access aid
The French Government did not expect so many drivers to access this social leasing. The avalanche of applications has caused registration to close just over a month after it opened. The plan gives access to an electric vehicle to people who would not consider buying one, and even allows the French market to be strengthened.
“We have achieved our objectives and even exceeded all our expectations,” an advisor to the Head of State acknowledged to Tribune. The Government has already created a waiting list for the next call. In all of 2024 they expected between 20,000 and 25,000 applications and have received about 50,000 in just one month.
France has decided to turn off the tap, at least until next year. The Government will review the requests that drivers have made in the few weeks that the measure was in effect, but social leasing will not return until at least 2025.