This is a subsidised leasing of an electric car, which, once it is finally approved - expected - will give thousands of vulnerable households access to a modern, clean vehicle - without needing either purchase or bank loan.
What it is and how it will work
Social Leasing will not be a Greek original. It is based on the French model that has been successfully applied in recent years, adapted to Greek data, because in France it was only valid for small electrics (microcars). Beneficiaries make a classic lease of an electric car through leaching – with all the services provided it entails (service, insurance, etc.) – and the state subsidy drastically reduces their monthly cost. At the end of the four-year lease, the user can either keep the car by paying an extra amount, or replace it with a new one.
The overall budget of the programme is EUR 174 million and is part of a wider package of 25 actions, totalling EUR 5.3 billion, financed by the European Union's Social Climate Fund.
How much is the subsidy?
The average subsidy is set at EUR 13,000 per beneficiary for a four-year lease. For disabled people, the amount is increased by EUR 2,000, i.e. up to EUR 15,000. In addition, a separate subsidy of EUR 500 is provided for the purchase and installation of a wallbox so that the beneficiary can easily charge his home.
To make it more understandable: if an electric car has a total rent of 20,000 euros for four years, the beneficiary will receive a subsidy of 13,000 euros and will be invited to pay only the remaining 7,000 euros – about 145 euros a month. Without the program, the same leasing would cost around 417 euros monthly. The savings thus exceed EUR 270 per month.
Who it concerns – the income criteria
The programme is aimed at households designated «transportly vulnerable» – that is to say, families who have serious difficulties covering basic movements due to low income. The aim is to integrate a total of 12,500 households.
The emphasis is placed on specific categories: families with children, households with a disabled member, as well as households experiencing energy or transport poverty. Income limits vary depending on the composition of the household, the number of members and any geographical specificities – the final framework of criteria is expected to be specialised at the start of the application platform.
Important: to join the programme is not enough simply to meet the income criteria. A specific register of beneficiaries is required, the procedure for which will be announced at the official start of the application.
Which cars will include
Beneficiaries will not be able to choose any electric market model. There will be a publicly posted list of eligible vehicles, which will include the most accessible electric models circulating in Greece. This option is not accidental: it aims to control the cost of the programme on the one hand and to ensure that vehicles are practical and appropriate for the daily needs of the beneficiaries.
The wider framework: subsidies for businesses as well
Social Leasing is only one of the pillars of the overall plan. At the same time, a programme of EUR 289 million is planned for around 14,000 very small enterprises (up to 9 employees and up to 2 million turnover) and for 1,000 logistics companies that want to electrify their fleet. In this category, the subsidy reaches 40% for passenger and light vehicles, and 30% for heavier, such as trucks and buses. Overall, all actions together concern 1.5 million households and 70,000 small businesses.
When does it start
The application of Social Leasing is placed within 2026, after the completion of the necessary administrative procedures and the announcement of the application platform. The approval by the Commission was the crucial condition – and has now been given. For vulnerable households who for years could not imagine a new car, let alone electric, the message is clear: this program was designed precisely for them.
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