The 10 most deeply discounted electric cars right now
Category: Alternative Energy
Via: outis • 10 months ago • 2 commentsBy: Autoblog Feb 25th 2024 at 10:25AM (Autoblog)
In order to deal with slowing EV demand, dealers and manufacturers are pouring on the discounts.
So ummm...... What kind of margin were these companies trying to gouge, before customers simply said "NO!"?
Affordability is a new deciding factor for the success of an electric car
Volkswagen ID.4
J osh Lefkowitz/Getty Images
- Deals have abounded in the EV market since last summer.
- Discounts are getting bigger after it got harder to qualify for the $7,500 tax credit.
- The most expensive EVs are seeing the biggest discounts.
Electric vehicles are getting some hefty discounts this year.
In order to deal with a slowdown in demand for big, expensive electric cars — and dwindling federal incentives — dealers and manufacturers are pouring on discounts.
Deals have abounded in the EV market since last summer, when these cars started piling up on dealer lots. Elon Musk's aggressive discounting of the popular Tesla Model 3 and Model Y didn't help either.
By the end of last year, electric cars were seeing some of their highest discounts ever, according to Kelley Blue Book. Average EV incentives rocketed to 9.8% of average transaction prices from 2% just a year earlier.
The discounts are continuing into this year, with some of the most expensive models seeing the biggest price cuts. Changes to requirements for a $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit have also put more responsibility on the dealer and the manufacturer to discount prices.
As demand from wealthy early adopters in the EV segment dries up, affordability is a new deciding factor for the success of an electric car.
We asked Edmunds for a list of the most discounted electric cars in January. These discounts don't take into account the $7,500 federal tax credit for qualifying vehicles.
Here are the best deals you can find on EVs right now:
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
Mercedes-Benz
Tim Levin/Insider
Average transaction price: $82,171
Sticker price: $92,173
Average discount: $10,002
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is a Tesla-fighter aimed at the heart of the US car market. Business Insider drove it last year and we loved everything about it but the looks.
BMW i7
BMW i7
Fabian Kirchbauer, BMW
Average transaction price: $126,307
Sticker price: $135,456
Average discount: $9,194
The BMW i7 is an ultra-luxurious sedan originally aimed at Tesla's Model S.
Volvo C40 Recharge
Volvo
Average transaction price: $52,701
Sticker price: $61,647
Average discount: $8,946
Volvo's second EV for the US market is slightly smaller than its older sibling, the XC40 Recharge.
Porsche Taycan
2023 Porsche Taycan
Porsche
Average transaction price: $127,700
Sticker price: $134,314
Average discount: $6,614
The Porsche Taycan has long been a leader in the ultra-luxury electric vehicle market, with its fiercest competitor being the Tesla Model S. Discounts on the Taycan come as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been lowering the price of its flagship sedan.
Lexus RZ 450e
Lexus RZ 450e
Lexus
Average transaction price: $59,746
Sticker price: $64,238
Average discount: $4,492
Lexus's first electric vehicle debuted last year among a slew of other luxury EVs.
Audi Q8 e-tron
Audi Q8
Audi
Average transaction price: $80,963
Sticker price: $85,367
Average discount: $4,404
The Audi Q8 e-tron is positioned to compete with Tesla's Model X and Model Y, both of which have been heavily discounted in the past year.
Volkswagen ID.4
Volkswagen
Average transaction price: $47,593
Sticker price: $50,874
Average discount: $3,281
The Volkswagen ID.4 was one of the first electric SUVs to compete with Tesla's Model Y when it debuted in 2020. It's likely been hit by bigger discounts due to its positioning as a more attainable option for first-time EV buyers.
BMW i5
BMW i5
DANIEL KRAUS, BMW
Average transaction price: $81,466
Sticker price: $84,670
Average discount: $3,204
The BMW i5 is the latest electric sedan in the German luxury carmaker's lineup. It went on sale last fall, amid a softening in demand for expensive EVs.
BMW i4
BMW i4
Tim Levin/Insider
Average transaction price: $61,821
Sticker price: $64,973
Average discount: $3,152
The BMW i4 is the sportiest among the German automaker's electric sedans.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images
Average transaction price: $50,944
Sticker price: $54,002
Average discount: $3,058
The Ioniq 5 has been a popular EV among both average drivers and auto critics, becoming the first EV to win MotorTrend's SUV of the year in 2022.
They're mad!
Still not inexpensive by any stretch.