“Social leasing” in France: electric cars from 54 euros per month

In France there is now so-called “social leasing” for electric cars. The measure is intended to support low-income earners – and ideally also the French e-car industry.

Emissions down, production up – and on top of that, helping socially less privileged families: That’s the idea behind the so-called “leasing social” in France. Interested parties can now register on an internet platform – and then lease electric cars for 100 euros or less per month from January.

The offer is aimed at households whose reference income is less than 15,400 euros per year. Anyone who wants to benefit in the coming year must also live at least 15 kilometers away from their workplace – or travel more than 8,000 kilometers per year for work.

Macron government solves Election promises a

For 2024, the offer will be limited to 20,000 to 25,000 possible registrations, but will later be gradually expanded. The French state contributes up to 13,000 euros for each leased car. This saves people the first – usually very expensive – leasing payments. The leasing contracts should then run for three years and be renewable.

Social leasing is a campaign promise made by President Emmanuel Macron last year. Cars are responsible for more than 15 percent of France’s greenhouse gas emissions. The government wants to reduce this quota in order to be able to meet its reduction targets by 2030.

State bonus no longer for “Made in China”

At the same time, she wants to boost European – and even better, French – production: “We want to help buy, above all, electric cars that were manufactured by us,” said the president in a video message on social networks. The cheapest offers for social leasing – 54 euros a month without insurance – currently apply to models that are produced in Europe but not in France.

At the same time as social leasing, President Macron announced a reform of the eco-bonus for electric cars: In the future, this will no longer be available for electric cars from Chinese manufacturers – or those that are produced in China.