Like in many other parts of the world, the US new car market has struggled to recover after the pandemic and high interest rates. But when many customers hesitate to make a straight purchase, car dealers are managing to attract more and more with leasing.
For the new car market as a whole, the proportion of leased cars is now up to 19 percent, an increase of a few percentage points over just over a year. But the real surge is seen among electric cars: from 11 to 32 percent, according to the news agency Bloomberg.
The reason is largely due to complex subsidies. President Biden's support package IRA set tough rules for which electric cars are eligible for up to $7,500 (76,000 kronor) in tax deductions. But for leased cars, the requirements are much lower.
In combination with varying support at the state level, as well as discounts from car manufacturers, it can have extreme effects. Perhaps the lowest price Bloomberg found last summer was the electric model Nissan Leaf in Colorado, which could be leased for $20 a month. "It's less than a tank of gasoline," the news agency writes.
