The State is ready to subsidize more than the 25,000 electric vehicles initially planned via the “social leasing” system, but for this to happen French manufacturers must “accelerate the pace” of production, urged the Minister of Industry and of Energy Roland Lescure on Sunday.
More than 90,000 people had already requested at the end of January to benefit from an electric car for less than 100 euros per month for city cars and 150 euros for family cars (excluding insurance and maintenance) as part of this rental system with option of purchase (LOA) launched in December, reserved for the moment for the most modest French people and heavy rollers. “Today, there is great demand and we do not yet have enough products made in France. This means that French manufacturers must accelerate the pace or commit to doing so,” declared Roland Lescure on France 3, in the program Dimanche en politique. Only vehicles built in France or Europe are eligible.
Asked whether the State is ready to finance “50,000 cars” instead of 25,000, Roland Lescure replied “we will do it, but we will do it while ensuring a good pace”, because the goal is not no electrification of the French automobile fleet with cars “made in China”. Faced with strong demand, the Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu assured in January that the government was “working” with car manufacturers “to see if we can make 30, 35, 40,000 vehicles” rather than 25,000.
According to Roland Lescure on Sunday, “we may have to wait a little” because the system “is a victim of its success”. “It’s going a little faster than we thought. We will perhaps slow down a little, give ourselves time to produce French, and then accelerate, accelerate, accelerate…”. “End of the year or beginning of next year, I will come back and tell you,” he added. French manufacturers are due to launch several electric models in the coming months, such as the Renault 5.
This “social leasing” is currently reserved for French people whose reference tax income is less than 15,400 euros, who drive more than 8,000 km per year or live more than 15 km from their place of work. Without initial contribution, the rental is planned for three years, renewable once. The State finances each rental up to a maximum of 13,000 euros.