Skip advert
Advertisement

German Government gives away free electric cars

Generous grants for EVs from German Government allow motorists to lease a Renault Zoe for two years without paying a penny

They say the best things in life are free, and if you’re a fan of electric cars and are a German citizen, you can get your hands on a brand-new Renault Zoe without having to pay a penny thanks to generous Government incentives.

In order to encourage people into cleaner cars, and stimulate the economy, the German government currently gives buyers €6,000 off the price of a new EV. And unlike the £3,000 UK Plug-in Car Grant, which is deducted from the list price, Germany consumers can spread their more generous grant across monthly leasing repayments.

One dealer group in Germany, Autohaus Koenig, which has over 50 showrooms across the country, is now advertising a brand-new Renault Zoe on a two-year lease, for a total cost of €6,000 over the period of the contract, with the monthly bills being met entirely by German taxpayers. Autohaus Koenig has had around 150 enquiries a day since introducing the offer, according to BloombergNEF, which reported the story originally.

Advertisement - Article continues below

“If we had more sales staff, we would have sold even more,” Wolfgang Huber from Autohaus Koenig said in a Facebook post for his company. “We did expect an increase in sales with the subsidies, but this run really struck us.”

The news of taxpayer-funded EVs in Germany may stick in the craw of UK manufacturers and dealer groups, who have long lobbied the UK Treasury for an expansion of subsidies for new cars in the wake of coronavirus. This was officially ruled out at the end of last month by a UK Government spokesman, however, despite the new-car market being down by over a third in June, even after English dealerships opened at the start of the month.

Take a look at the cheapest electric cars in the UK here (none are free)...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Audi A3 still planned: entry-level EV to give affordability edge over BMW and Mercedes
Audi A3 EV render - front
News

New Audi A3 still planned: entry-level EV to give affordability edge over BMW and Mercedes

Audi will persevere with its plan for an entry-level electric car to replace the existing Audi A3 at a time when rivals will be exiting that market
20 Mar 2024
Mercedes-AMG’s Porsche Taycan killer powerslides into view
Mercedes-AMG EQ Supersaloon - front
News

Mercedes-AMG’s Porsche Taycan killer powerslides into view

The new electric Mercedes-AMG super saloon will use AMG’s own unique platform, and is likely to produce 1,000bhp
18 Mar 2024
Hot Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX to be revealed on 21 March
Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX teaser
News

Hot Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX to be revealed on 21 March

The high-performance minibus is likely to feature 335bhp dual-motor setup from new VW ID.7 GTX Tourer
14 Mar 2024
New Dacia Spring to be revealed in full on 21 February
Dacia Spring teaser
News

New Dacia Spring to be revealed in full on 21 February

Dacia’s budget EV will come with a new look and upgraded technology for its UK launch
19 Feb 2024

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024