Renault: The new electric Twingo costs 99 euros per month, but what lies behind this offer?

The electric Twingo now costs less than 100 euros per month, thanks to increased EU subsidies for lower-income households. Is this attractive?

While it was previously priced at 130 euros per month through social leasing, the Twingo is now listed on Renault’s website at 99 euros per month, without going through social leasing. This might seem unusual!

Indeed, the offer is different. It’s still a 37-month long-term lease, but with a lower mileage limit (30,000 km instead of 45,000 km). More importantly, a down payment is required, which isn’t the case with social leasing—the first increased installment is covered by a subsidy of 5,652 euros. Here, however, the down payment is limited to 1,000 euros.

Compared to previous LLD programs, the offer has become more competitive thanks to an increased CEE subsidy starting on October 1st for lower-income households. Previously, it amounted to 6,180 €, but it has now risen to 7,070 €. It is not limited to a percentage of the catalog price, as is the case with leasing subsidies.

This 7,070 € subsidy, however, is reserved for “households in energy hardship” with a per-person taxable income of up to 11,250 € (deciles 1 to 3). It’s not easy to meet these criteria while still considering renting a new car.

But if that works out, this offer is attractive because for 99 euros per month after the down payment, you get a small five-door, four-seater city car with a range of 263 km, which is more than sufficient for daily commuting. Additionally, it comes standard with air conditioning, a 10-inch touchscreen, or independent sliding rear seats. On the downside, you have to settle for a 6.6 kW AC charger. For a 50 kW fast DC charger, you need to add an option for 500 euros, which also includes a 11 kW bidirectional AC charger.

It’s worth noting that low-income households with a taxable income between 11,251 euros and 16,880 euros inclusive (deciles 4 to 5) receive a subsidy of 6,030 euros. For others, it’s 3,620 euros.

In the case of cash purchase, for the less affluent half of French people, this Twingo costs 13,430 euros (deciles 4/5) or even 12,420 euros (deciles 1 to 3).

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