Besides government subsidies: Car manufacturers are engaged in a real price war

With the introduction of the new government subsidy for electric vehicles, the purchase premium returns in 2026. Many brands combine the subsidy with their own bonus offers, while others rely on leasing or financing models. While this makes the market more attractive to buyers, it also leads to greater complexity. We show which manufacturers are currently offering noteworthy advantages.

Volkswagen and Cupra
Stellantis: Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS, Opel, Peugeot
BYD, Xpeng, Leapmotor
Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Nissan
Ford, Renault, Dacia

The German government has introduced a new subsidy for electric vehicles, which applies retroactively from January 1, 2026. The program promotes the purchase of electric cars and plug-in hybrids. The amount of the subsidy depends on various factors, including vehicle type, income, and the number of children in the household. The basic subsidy for purely electric cars is €3,000, and for plug-in hybrids and vehicles with range extenders, it’s €1,500. Those eligible for the maximum subsidy can double this amount.

While premium brands like BMW and Mercedes are refraining from offering further discounts, many competitors are pursuing the opposite strategy. They are specifically doubling or supplementing the government subsidy, deliberately focusing on low leasing rates or special financing models. For prospective buyers, this means that the actual price advantage only arises from the interplay of several factors. Here you will find an overview of the manufacturers currently offering their own incentives.

Note: Offers are subject to change. This overview is current as of January 30, 2026.

Volkswagen

As part of its 2026 “ID. Purchase Bonus,” Volkswagen is offering discounts of up to €10,000 on its electric vehicles. This combination of government subsidies and VW-specific discounts results in significantly reduced prices, as seen with the ID.3 Pure (see our ID.3 review), which drops to €23,330 thanks to the incentives. The ID.4 Pure (see our ID.4 GTX review) is also becoming more affordable, costing only around €30,000 after discounts and government subsidies. The ID.7 Pro (see our review) is also offered with discounts of up to €5,000 and is available for €43,905 after the incentives. These offers apply to both ordered and in-stock vehicles, and buyers can configure their vehicles to their liking.

The offer is currently valid until March 31, 2026, and applies to both private and commercial buyers.

Cupra

The CUPRA Tribe Bonus promotion offers discounts on the purchase or lease of the Cupra Born (see test) and Cupra Tavascan (see test). Private customers and individual business customers receive a bonus of €4,000 gross for the Cupra Born and €5,000 gross for the Cupra Tavascan when they conclude a purchase or lease agreement by March 31, 2026. The bonus is either deducted directly from the purchase price or integrated into the lease payments.

This offer applies exclusively to the models mentioned and must be claimed within the promotional period, which runs until March 31, 2026.

Once a week, we provide comprehensive information on the best electric cars, e-bikes, and heat pumps, as well as the best energy sources: green energy providers, balcony power plants, and solar panels. With tests, guides, and buying advice, we lead you through the energy transition.

Fiat

As part of the new government purchase incentive program, Fiat is offering particularly favorable leasing terms for the Fiat Grande Panda Electric (see test). By combining the government subsidy with attractive leasing rates, private customers can lease the compact electric car for just €99 per month, with a 48-month term and an annual mileage of up to 10,000 kilometers. This offer is contingent upon claiming the maximum purchase incentive. The offer is valid for lease agreements concluded by March 31, 2026, and is only available at participating Fiat dealerships.

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo is offering advantageous leasing terms for the Junior Elettrica in addition to the government subsidy. Buyers can benefit from 0% financing, making the switch to electric vehicles particularly attractive. The down payment for the lease is calculated in such a way that it is partially covered by the government subsidy. With a 48-month lease term and an annual mileage of 10,000 kilometers, the monthly payment drops considerably, making the vehicle particularly attractive for private customers.

Citroën

Citroën goes beyond the government subsidy and doubles the premium, allowing buyers to receive an additional €6,000. Even if a customer is not eligible for the government support, Citroën still guarantees its own subsidy of €3,000, enabling a particularly low entry price.

The electric city car ë-C3 (see test) is therefore available from just €16,990. Leasing starts at €155 per month for a 48-month term and an annual mileage of 10,000 km. The ë-C3 Aircross is also available at favorable terms, with a monthly lease payment of €195. In addition to the low prices, both models also offer an eight-year warranty and tax exemption.

DS Automobiles

As part of the special “Electrified Leasing” promotion, DS Automobiles is offering particularly attractive leasing terms for the DS N°4 E-Tense. For example, the DS N°4 E-Tense Pallas is available to lease from just €259 per month, resulting in savings of up to €6,864 over a 48-month term. This offer applies to all versions of the DS N°4 E-Tense, including Pallas, Étoile, Jules Verne, and DS Performance Line. Those opting for a four-year lease can save an additional €260 per month compared to the standard rate, resulting in total savings of €12,480.

Government subsidies can be used as a down payment, further reducing monthly payments.

Opel

As part of the “Opel Electric All In” promotion, Opel is offering an attractive deal for private customers who purchase a new, unregistered, all-electric Opel passenger car until March 31, 2026. Buyers will receive a free eProWallbox Move, valued at €649.

However, it is important to note that additional costs for installation and charging cables are not included and must be paid separately. Installation of the wallbox must be carried out by qualified personnel and comply with local regulations. The wallbox is only available if the purchase of an unregistered, all-electric Opel passenger car (excluding the Rocks) is completed by March 31, 2026. Free registration on the “Opel Electric All In” promotion page is required before purchase to receive the wallbox.

For those interested in leasing, Opel also offers attractive terms: The Opel Corsa Electric (see test) is available from €130 per month, the Opel Astra Electric (see test) from €220 per month, and the Opel Grandland Electric (see test) from €249 per month.

Peugeot

Peugeot also offers its own deals as part of this incentive program, further reducing the cost of getting started with electric mobility. The Peugeot E-2008 Style is available for lease from €119 per month. This price includes the €5,000 Peugeot electric vehicle bonus, and buyers also benefit from the government subsidy. The Peugeot E-208 Style is also available for lease from €139 per month, likewise including the €5,000 Peugeot electric vehicle bonus and the government subsidy.

Peugeot is also available for lease from €139 per month, likewise including the €5,000 Peugeot electric vehicle bonus and the government subsidy. These offers are valid only for private customers purchasing a new vehicle and for registrations from January 1, 2026, with the incentive ending no later than December 31, 2028, or as soon as the funding is exhausted. The combination of Peugeot-specific bonuses and the government subsidy results in a total price advantage of up to €12,500 compared to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

BYD

In addition to the government subsidy, BYD is offering attractive e-bonuses until March 31, making the transition to electric mobility even more affordable. Models such as the Dolphin (see the Dolphin Surf test), the Atto 2 (see the test), and the SEAL U benefit from significant price reductions. The Dolphin is available from just €12,990 after deducting the €7,600 e-bonus and the government subsidy of up to €6,000. The Atto 2 is also available with an e-bonus of up to €10,650 for a price of €18,990.

When leasing BYD vehicles, customers benefit from low down payments and attractive monthly rates. For example, the Dolphin can be leased from just €89 per month for a 48-month term and an annual mileage allowance of 10,000 km.

Xpeng

XPENG promises various financing and bonus offers designed to make getting started with electric mobility easier. Of particular note is the 0% financing for the XPENG G6 and XPENG G9 models, which is valid until March 31, 2026. With this offer, customers can choose between terms of 12 to 48 months. The XPENG G6 is available starting at €446 gross per month, while the larger XPENG G9 starts at €548 gross per month. Both models have a 48-month term with an annual mileage allowance of 10,000 km. Please note that a down payment of €4,000 (G6) or €6,000 (G9) is required at the beginning of the lease.

In addition to 0% financing, buyers who trade in a used car receive a trade-in bonus of €3,000. This bonus is also available until March 31, 2026, and can be combined with the government’s electric vehicle subsidy.

Leapmotor

Leapmotor offers its T03 compact car (see test) at extremely attractive rates, especially through leasing. The Leapmotor T03 is currently available with a lease payment of just €18 per month for a 36-month term, provided you take advantage of the maximum government subsidy for electric vehicles. This is the lowest entry-level price for an electric vehicle in Germany, particularly when combined with the government incentive. Buyers must make a down payment of €4,000, which is later credited against the government subsidy.

However, this very low price comes with some limitations, such as a mileage limit of 5,000 km per year and a delivery fee of €1,450, which is charged in addition to the lease payment. Those who apply for the subsidy will receive the premium retroactively, further reducing the financial burden compared to other models.

However, the very low price is subject to some restrictions, such as a mileage limit of 5,000 km per year and a delivery fee of €1,450, which is payable in addition to the lease payment. Toyota

Toyota customers can receive up to €12,300 in discounts, comprised of the Toyota Germany Bonus and government subsidies.

One example is the Toyota Aygo X Pure Hybrid, which is offered at a particularly attractive price with a Germany Bonus of €3,200. The car can be leased from €199 per month, with a term of 48 months and an annual mileage allowance of 10,000 km. The initial lease payment is €990, and the total contract amount is €10,542, plus delivery charges.

The Toyota C-HR Active Hybrid qualifies for a bonus of €5,500. Those who wish to lease this SUV also benefit from no down payment – instead, the monthly lease payment is €279. The offer is valid for a 48-month term and an annual mileage of 10,000 km, and the down payment, which would otherwise be €1,990, is waived.

These offers are exclusively for private customers and are valid until March 31, 2026.

Honda

As of January 2, 2026, Honda has reduced the prices of its electrified models in Germany. This adjustment applies to all hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Jazz, HR-V, ZR-V, and CR-V models.

The discounts vary considerably depending on the model. The HR-V eHEV receives a discount of €800, while savings of up to €1,050 are possible with the Jazz eHEV. The ZR-V eHEV is €2,000 cheaper, and the biggest savings are with the CR-V: The CR-V eHEV costs up to €3,200 less, and the plug-in hybrid CR-V ePHEV has a discount of €3,900.

Kia

Kia is currently offering an attractive leasing deal for the Kia EV4 (see test), characterized by a particularly low monthly payment and a €6,000 bonus. The vehicle can be leased for just €129 per month with a 48-month term and an annual mileage of 20,000 km. The €6,000 down payment is already included in the total lease payment of €12,192. This offer is valid until March 31, 2026, and is aimed at customers who register the vehicle by that date.

Kia is currently offering an attractive leasing deal for the Kia EV4 (see test), featuring a particularly low monthly payment and a €6,000 bonus. Nissan

Nissan is kicking off 2026 with a promotion that makes buying a new car significantly more affordable. The automaker is offering a Nissan Bonus that is higher than the planned government subsidy and applies to all vehicles – not just electric and hybrid cars, but also gasoline-powered models. The Qashqai, X-Trail, and Juke models are particularly popular with German buyers and are now being offered at especially attractive prices.

The Nissan X-Trail, Qashqai, and Juke benefit from substantial price reductions thanks to the Nissan Bonus. The price of the X-Trail drops by €7,510, and the Qashqai is reduced by €7,785. These offers are valid until March 31, 2026, and can be combined with the government subsidy.

Ford

Ford is currently offering an additional bonus of €5,000 on several of its electric and plug-in hybrid models, including the Puma Gen-E, Explorer, Capri, Kuga Plug-in Hybrid, and Mustang Mach-E. The unique aspect of this offer is that it is granted regardless of eligibility for government subsidies for electric vehicles. The bonus applies to both outright purchases and leases.

Renault

In January 2026, Renault is offering a special promotion for private customers, reimbursing up to four monthly payments (maximum €500 per month, totaling up to €2,000) when signing a lease or finance agreement for certain electric or plug-in hybrid models. This promotion applies to vehicles registered by September 30, 2026, with a minimum contract term of 24 months.

Renault Renault is offering a special deal with the Renault 5 E-Tech: Combined with the government subsidy and Renault’s discount, the price of this compact car can be significantly reduced. The Renault 5 E-Tech starts at €28,000, with a basic subsidy of €3,000 for electric vehicles and a Renault discount of up to €2,000, bringing the price down to €23,000. With a higher government subsidy for lower-income households, the price can even drop to €21,000.

Attractive discounts are also available for the Renault Rafale E-Tech Full Hybrid. This car starts at €44,000, and with the government subsidy and Renault’s discount, the cost can be reduced to as low as €38,500.

“` Renault’s promotion isn’t limited to the Renault 5 E-Tech and the Renault Rafale, but also includes the Megane E-Tech, the Scenic E-Tech, and other models from its electric and plug-in hybrid range. With leasing offers like the Renault 5 E-Tech, the monthly payments increase slightly due to the discount, but the waived monthly payments offset this increase, ensuring the actual monthly payment remains attractive for customers.

Dacia

Dacia offers the Spring (for testing) as a particularly affordable electric vehicle. The manufacturer grants an electric vehicle bonus of €5,000, which is directly factored into the vehicle price or leasing terms and is independent of government subsidies.

The Spring Expression Electric 70 model is available from €13,700, including the electric vehicle bonus. For leasing, the Spring is available at particularly favorable rates starting from €99 per month with a 36-month term and an annual mileage allowance of 15,000 km. In addition, Dacia offers a loyalty guarantee that allows you to insure your vehicle for up to seven years or 150,000 km after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, provided regular maintenance is performed.

This leasing offer and the electric vehicle bonus are valid from January 1, 2026, to February 28, 2026, with vehicle registration no later than September 30, 2026.

Leasing continues to gain importance

It’s already clear that the new incentive is primarily boosting the leasing market. Many offers include the expected bonus as a down payment, significantly reducing monthly payments without manufacturers having to lower their official list prices. For private customers, leasing can once again become the preferred entry point into electric mobility – provided the incentive conditions are right. However, be aware: these low rates aren’t always attainable.