If we have talked a lot about electric cars produced in China which lose their ecological bonus with the new 2024 criteria, such as MG Motor models, the Dacia Spring or the Tesla Model 3, they are not the only ones to suffer this fate. Thus, in the first list of eligible cars published by the government, we also notice the absence of models produced in South Korea. It’s quite simple, the only cars that can still benefit from the bonus from December 15, 2023 are produced in Europe.
Certainly, there remains a glimmer of hope for the excluded models. Their manufacturers will in fact be able to put together a second file with more precise values, hoping this time to obtain a sufficient environmental score to obtain the ecological bonus. However, for the moment, all electric cars from Hyundai and Kia have their ecological bonus withdrawn, with the exception of the Hyundai Kona Electric, assembled in the Czech Republic.
A (very) ephemeral discount
Previously quite competitive, these models therefore become much less attractive due to the loss of the bonus, amounting to €5,000, or even €7,000 for the most modest households. To compensate for this increase in the purchase price for customers, Kia’s French subsidiary is offering a “bonus for electric” of €5,000 on its Niro EV. The EV6 and EV9 are not affected: their price exceeds the threshold of €47,000 from the entry level, they were already not eligible for the ecological bonus in 2023.
This discount increases the price of the Kia Niro EV to €40,640 at entry level, with a 150 kW (204 hp) engine and a range of 460 km. However, this assistance is only available until December 31, 2023, and only at participating distributors. In 2024, beyond the loss of its bonus, the electric Niro will also have to face the arrival of the Renault Scénic E-Tech. Prices for the latter should start around €40,000, for a range of 430 km, and the French SUV will also be eligible for the ecological bonus of €5,000 to €7,000.