MG Motor, a brand of the Chinese group SAIC, announced this Friday the launch of a leasing contract at 99 euros per month for its electric MG4, without waiting for the French government to present the long-awaited “social leasing” aimed at returning the electric car. more affordable.
The MG offer, open from July 1 to August 31 with the brand’s financial partner, Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance, does not require a personal contribution and is valid for two years. On the other hand, it is conditional on the granting of two public aids, the ecological super bonus inflated to 7,000 euros for the most modest homes and a conversion bonus of 2,500 euros for the sale of an old thermal model.
“Social leasing has been in the news for more than a year, but, so far, without any real concrete solution offered to the motorists initially targeted by the project,” said Julien Robert, director of sales and MG Motor network. . France quoted in a press release.
Government social lease presented in autumn
This operation of a Chinese brand occurs when the government system is still the subject of discussions and arbitration. According to a government source, the social lease at 100 euros per month should be presented in autumn and the first eligible vehicles delivered in 2024. The device has been delayed several times because the government is facing a headache. In the absence of a sufficient supply of electric vehicles made in Europe, he fears that public aid will mainly benefit models imported from Asia. But a geographic preference also risks clashing with European competition rules.
“It’s still quite complicated to do,” adds the source. “If you want something truly decarbonized, meaning produced in Europe and not in other parts of the world, there isn’t much on the market today.”
Establishing a carbon footprint throughout the entire production cycle of a vehicle, whether it is produced in Europe or China, also remains a challenge given that the industry is so globalized. If Renault’s first affordable electric car, the R5, will be assembled in France along with its battery, Stellantis’ new Citroën e-C3, promised for less than €25,000, will be built in Slovakia but will feature a Chinese-made battery. Both models will hit the market next year, this time in time for the government social lease. The e-C3 is announced in early 2024 and the R5 after the summer.
MG Motor highlights for its part that its cars are already available and in stock. “With our social leasing offer, we allow those who really need it access to an offer never seen before,” added Haojie Guo, CEO of MG Motor France, quoted in the press release. According to the Avere-France association for electric mobility, the MG4 was the fifth best-selling electric car in France in May, behind the Tesla Model Y, the Fiat 500, the Peugeot e-208 and the Dacia Spring.
Source: BFM TV
