Deals available on new electric cars as France’s state bonus set to end

Major discounts on car brands including Fiat, Volkswagen, and MG are available on some electric models in France as manufacturers seek to sell them ahead of the reduction of the ecological ‘bonus’.

The aim is to empty stocks of cars that will no longer qualify for the ecological bonus payment once the scheme has ended and to offer a boost to sales at the end of the year. 

What are the changes happening to the bonus?

Currently, in new brackets that came into force on December 2, the bonuses stand at:

• €4,000 for household income of up to €16,300 of income per person (income deciles 1 to 5)
• €3,000 up to €26,200 per person (deciles 6 to 8)
• €2,000 for income above €26,200 per person (deciles 9 and 10). Most electric car buyers come under this last bracket.

These brackets are in contrast to those that applied before December 2 when up to €4,000 in aid was available (with no income conditions), alongside up to €7,000 in ecological bonuses.

The decree states that the previous brackets will continue to apply to orders placed before publication of the decree in the Journal Officiel (on Sunday, December 1) provided that the vehicles are delivered before February 14.

The ‘bonus écologique’ (ecological bonus) scheme is set to continue in 2025, but it is very likely to be reduced again. 

The amount is not yet known, however it will go ahead despite the lack of an official budget (due to the vote of no confidence in former Prime Minister Michel Barnier), as it is financed by energy saving certificates (CEE) which are not dependent on the budget.

The prime au rétrofit (retrofit bonus) and social leasing schemes will also continue in 2025. However, the ‘prime à la conversion’ scheme (conversion bonus being financial aid that was available to drivers who swapped their old car for a new less polluting one) no longer exists. 

Read also: One of main aids to purchase an electric car will end in France in 2025
Read more: Will French aid to buy a zero emission car drop in 2025? 

Major discounts available

Brands offering discounts to take advantage of these changes include Fiat, Volkswagen, MG, Leapmotor, and BYD.

Fiat

For example, Fiat is offering a €8,000 discount on its 500e model (full price €30,400) until December 31. This bonus is “for everyone”, it states, and combines the various government grants still available (depending on the buyer’s income), to reach this discount level.

For example:

• For someone eligible for the €2,000 bonus, the discount is €6,000

• For someone eligible for the €3,000 bonus, the discount is €5,000

• For someone eligible for the €4,000 bonus, the discount is €4,000

A similar deal applies to the Fiat 600e (full price €35,900).

For both the offer is only valid for vehicles already in stock and ready to sell.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen is also offering significant discounts on its 100% electric ID range. 

• For those eligible for the €3,000 or €4,000 bonus, the ID.3 is available from €27,990 (20% reduction on the full price of €34,990).

Volkswagen is also running an offer on its family SUV, the ID.4, deliberately bringing the price down to compete with the Renault Scénic. Both now start at €36,000.

The same promotion means that Volkswagen is now offering certain models at a major discount, even among those whose full price exceeds the €47,000 ceiling. For example, when discounted by €5,500, the ID.5 price drops below this threshold meaning it is now eligible for the bonus, and starts at a price of €42,950.

MG 

At MG, the MG4 in ‘Standard’ starts at €21,990, a discount more than double the bonus. The MG ZS EV in ‘Comfort’ trim with a 51 kWh battery now starts at €23,990.

Chinese brands and eligibility questions

Chinese brands BYD and Leapmotor - which have not been eligible for the eco-bonus since the beginning of 2024 - have also announced some major offers for the end-of-year period.

BYD is offering discounts of up to €8,000 (21%) on the Atto 3 compact SUV. It is also offering a €7,000 discount on its Dolphin model.

Leapmotor (a partner of Stellantis, which owns brands including Peugeot and Citroën), is currently hoping that French ecological transition agency ADEME will find in its favour for its T03 model. 

The agency is currently examining the dossier to see if the car will qualify for the bonus. Leapmotor is currently offering the T03 model at €14,900, at least €4,000 off its usual list price.

However the vehicle is assembled in Europe - at Tychy in Poland - from kits produced in China which could mean it is not eligible for the bonus as France is considering tightening the rules even further to exclude vehicles that are not produced in Europe (even if they are assembled there).

Yet, Leapmotor is suggesting that the company would honour a theoretical bonus of €4,000. 

In its offer terms and conditions, it states that it would “grant a customer discount of an amount enabling you to benefit in total from the equivalent of an ecological bonus of €4,000”.