The EU's stricter emission requirements for the automotive industry are causing one car brand after another to lower prices. Now it's the turn of Europe's cheapest electric car.
Electric car prices have plummeted since January 1, 2025, when the EU's stricter emission requirements came into effect. Now it's the turn of Europe's already cheapest electric car, the Leap Motor T03.
To meet the EU's requirement for an average CO2 emission of a maximum of 93.6 grams per kilometer for all cars sold, car manufacturers must invest heavily in electric cars.
Industry analysts estimate that at least 20 percent of sales will need to be electric cars to reach the target. However, in the first 11 months of 2024, the share of electric cars in the EU was only around 13 percent.
One of the primary reasons for the low sales is the high prices of electric cars. In order to increase sales, car manufacturers are therefore forced to lower prices. Several car brands, including Hyundai and Stellantis, have already reduced prices significantly.
Stellantis, which collaborates with Chinese Leapmotor, has the cheapest electric car in Europe with the T03 model. The car, which is assembled in Poland, has so far cost 18,900 euros. Now the price is reduced by 4,000 euros to 14,900 euros, equivalent to almost 110,000 Danish kroner.
Dacia, which primarily sells gasoline cars, is also challenged by the new emissions requirements. To increase sales of their electric car, the Spring, they are lowering the price by 2,000 euros in France. The new price will be 16,900 euros. Or 125,000 Danish kroner.
Neither the Leap Motor T03 nor the Dacia Spring are sold in Denmark. The cheapest electric car on the market here is the MG ZS, which is sold at a price of 169,990 kroner.
It is expected that more new cheap electric cars will come to the market in the near future. The Renault 5 is an example of an upcoming model.
But it is uncertain whether it will be marketed in Denmark. Danish car buyers often prefer larger and more expensive models than in other European countries.