Vilonda prepares offer for electric cars through salary conversion
Vilonda offers a program that allows employees to lease an electric company vehicle through their employer. Named Vilocar, this program is modeled after the established corporate bike leasing scheme: employees can cover the monthly costs by converting a portion of their gross salary into lease payments.
Vilonda GmbH, founded in 2022 and headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, offers a mobility service that enables company employees to use electric vehicles through salary conversion. According to the company, this concept is based on the popular “Jobrad” program. The Vilocar service currently includes around 100 models from 30 brands. “The range spans family-friendly electric vehicles to sporty electric models,” it says. The program is intended for employers to be “cost-neutral and secure.”
A brief background: When converting salary for a company car, employees give up part of their gross salary in exchange for a business vehicle. In the case of the Vilocar offer, the company rents an electric car that can be used both personally and for business purposes. Thanks to the tax advantage, the employee obtains the car at a significantly lower cost than through private leasing. The employer also benefits, as they save on social contributions for the converted salary portion. Moreover, the monthly leasing or maintenance costs of the business car can be deducted as business expenses for tax purposes.
Vilonda states that the monthly package includes all services related to the vehicle – specifically insurance coverage, maintenance and wear and tear, registration, as well as delivery of the vehicle to the customer’s door. “In addition, it is possible for third parties – including beginners – to use the vehicle. Employees gain easy and low-risk access to electric mobility,” promotes the Frankfurt-based company.
Compared to private leasing, employees using electric company vehicles through salary conversion can achieve “price savings of up to 60%,” says Vilonda. Of course, this percentage can vary depending on individual income and tax circumstances, the leasing rate, vehicle model, duration, and mileage. “The individual net cost is displayed transparently on the platform. The only expense for using the vehicle are the individual charging costs, unless covered by the employer,” add the initiators.
The vehicle selection, application process, and other steps can be completed entirely digitally through the website. According to the responsible party, the contract duration is usually 48 months. The mileage can be agreed upon freely. Additionally, with a product called Vilosafe, “employers and employees can protect themselves from financial risks if their professional or personal situation changes during the contract period.”
"Corporate leasing has demonstrated how successfully mobility can be managed through an employer. With vilocar, we consistently apply this principle to electric vehicles—offering a wide range of options, attractive savings, and a fully digital process," summarizes Sevilay Gökkaya, CEO and Managing Director of Vilocar in Germany. "This creates a benefit for employees that supports sustainability goals."