[ArkansawyerAdam]

An interesting comment about leasing from VW at the Munich Auto Show this week. "Scott Keogh, CEO of VW Group of America, chimed in to say that since the ID. 4 began arriving in the US in March, about 80% of the 6,230 VW ID.4s sold in the US have been leased." They also elaborated on leasing and battery recycling. You can read the whole thing here. https://cleantechnica.com/2021/09/0...psvH-WUUDIEffqj_ThWqPz98oJhjErcuo_epyHuBW0Hh8

 

[Tinman]

There already is an indication that residuals for electric cars might be higher than for [internal combustion] cars

You wouldn't know it from ID.4 residuals they're using. If he's right, he may not get the opportunity for second and third leases because they won't get turned in at lease-end.

 

[rth121]

I'm surprised it's 80% leased... Guess I'm a minority who purchased/financed.

 

[theboomr]

I'm surprised it's 80% leased... Guess I'm a minority who purchased/financed.

I also purchased, because the ID.4 overall has every single feature I actually want in my daily car, and can do everything I need for the foreseeable future, so I plan to keep it very long term.

 

[wtatun]

I also purchased (x2) since I tend to hold onto cars and drive a lot of miles. Leasing would never work here, financially or otherwise.

 

[stealthg]

I think that a lot of people are hedging their bets on if there will be an improvement in battery tech/range in the next few years. I will probably lease. If range improves by 100 miles or so in the next version, i could see myself moving from lease to lease. If not, i buy the lease out and keep it

 

[Mike02828]

Range isn't the issue for me. Even if the mean range increases +100 miles, it's the frequency of charging stations that I care about. I'm ready to get out of the car after 200-250 miles of driving. Right now the problem is you have to stop where the stations are.

 

[stealthg]

Range isn't the issue for me. Even if the mean range increases +100 miles, it's the frequency of charging stations that I care about. I'm ready to get out of the car after 200-250 miles of driving. Right now the problem is you have to stop where the stations are.

I get that. I definitely take more stretching stops than I did in my twenties. Range becomes important to me for when there is a DCFC on the way to a destination that’s within range, but none near the destination to charge for the return trip. You’re forced to top off your battery early to make it back. To your point, maybe I want to take a stretch break there anyway. I hope that improvements to the charging networks will make it a mute point. I would be nice if some of these 50kw ChargePoint chargers became 150kw chargers.

 

[ArkansawyerAdam]

I'm surprised it's 80% leased... Guess I'm a minority who purchased/financed.

Yes, that is what really caught my eye. I leased to hedge my bets but really thought I was in the minority.

 

[ArkansawyerAdam]

You wouldn't know it from ID.4 residuals they're using. If he's right, he may not get the opportunity for second and third leases because they won't get turned in at lease-end.

Yes, it seems that there is an expectation that folks will not buy out at the end. That being said, one reason I leased was to have the option to see what was available in 3 years (AWD, new battery technology, etc.)

 

[gtwhitegold]

I purchased and personally have never leased a vehicle. I've been thinking about leasing a Ford Mach E for my wife, but we haven't really moved forward with it yet.

 

[ArkansawyerAdam]

I purchased and personally have never leased a vehicle. I've been thinking about leasing a Ford Mach E for my wife, but we haven't really moved forward with it yet.

The VW ID.4 was my first lease. I really did it because it is so new, I wanted to be able to have options in 3 years to either commit or move on. The $7500 incentive sealed it for me. With my trade and down, I am driving a new EV for <$500/mo.

 

[SlyEV]

I think many people are leasing because, at least in California, that’s the only way to get the Federal Incentive of $7,500 up front and not as a credit on taxes you file next year. That’s why we’re doing it.

 

[Tardisman]

I'm surprised it's 80% leased... Guess I'm a minority who purchased/financed.

I'm not,

There are likely a bunch of people that won't or can't be able to take advantage of the full value of the Federal Tax Credit (as it is only for the tax year of the purchase). Under a lease the Car Manufacture or leasing agency gets to use the Federal Tax Credit, and passes the value of the Tax Credit to the lessee instantaneously. At the end of the lease the Lessee can buy the car out under the terms of the lease and effectively used the Tax Credit without actually claiming it.

Personally, I purchased as I needed to reduce my taxable income as I just sold some property and have a Capital Gain. For me it was better to invest money in a car instead of paying it to the government in taxes.

John