Talk about an EV bargain! You won’t believe what it costs to own a Dacia Spring in Europe – but could these bargains come to Australia?
As electric cars sales fall in Germany by more than 37 per cent following the pullback of incentives, European automakers have responded by offering unprecedented deals on EVs of all descriptions, but at top of the pile is how cheaply you can now nab a 2025 Dacia Spring.
Already Germany’s most affordable EV at just €16,900 ($A27,900), the Renault-owned Romanian brand is offering the 2024 Dacia Spring for just €79 ($A130) a month on a 24-month/10,000km lease with zero dollars down.
Heralded as cheaper than catching a bus in Germany, the deal is focused on the entry-level Essential Electric 45 that is powered by a 33kW single e-motor that takes a near-eternity to launch from 0-100km/h (19.1 sec), but it’s modest 26.8kWh battery does provide an impressive 225km range – that’s plenty if you live in a city.
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The good news continues when it comes to the base Dacia’s spec.
If you can ignore the steel wheels, then not only do you get a 7.0-inch infotainment but there’s standard-fit air conditioning and a single USB-C charging port, plus electric front windows, parking sensors and AEB.
The catch is the cheap EV lease is only valid until December 31, 2024, and only applies to vehicles registered in Germany from January 2025 until June 2025 – implying stock might be limited.
The question is, what will happen to affordable EVs in Australia if demand suddenly drops off?
