The Tesla Model 3 has become the most popular electric vehicle (EV) to lease, according to Leasing.com’s league tables.
In one week, the new model generated more leasing enquiries than rivals cars (Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace) managed in a month.
Paul Harrison, head of strategic partnerships at Leasing.com, said: “The Model 3’s popularity is down to several factors, with cost being one of them. Monthly prices for the Model 3 start at around £400 per month, which is almost half the cost of Tesla’s larger models. It also undercuts comparable EVs such as the Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace.”
“Obviously the UK is one of the last countries to get the Model 3, and the long waiting period for right-hand drive models no doubt contributed to this huge early surge in interest too. It’s early days yet, but if the Model 3’s popularity continues at a comparable pace over the next few months, then Tesla could have delivered its first mass-market electric car.”
Combined interest in the Model 3, I-Pace and e-tron has seen EV enquiries increase 30% year on year during the first five months of 2019.
“This is a strong sign that lots of consumers are ready to make the jump to next-generation vehicles and leasing is offering them the ideal opportunity to test the waters,” said Harrison.
Tesla has been accepting orders for the Model 3 since May, when it announced UK pricing. It states that reservation holders – those who pre-paid a deposit – will have preferential delivery, but currently suggest a lead time of less than eight weeks on its website for new orders.
Elsewhere on the Leasing.com League Table, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class remains in pole position as the most popular personal lease car, while keen pricing of the E-Class saloon pushed the VW Golf into third position.
The all-new Range Rover Evoque jumped from eighth position to fourth, but Mercedes is still the most sought-after manufacturer among personal lease customers.
Top 10 electric and hybrid car enquiries for May:
- Toyota RAV4
- Tesla Model 3
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Toyota C-HR
- Jaguar I-Pace
- Toyota Corolla
- Audi e-tron
- BMW i3
- Lexus UX
- Kia e-Niro
Top 10 personal lease enquiries for May:
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Volkswagen Golf
- Range Rover Evoque
- Nissan Qashqai
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
- Seat Leon
- BMW 4 Series
Top 10 manufacturer enquiries for year-to-date 2019:
- Mercedes-Benz
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
- BMW
- Audi
- Land Rover
- Seat
- Nissan
- Skoda
- Vauxhall
Helen Mellor - 14/06/2019 15:50
This is because the rates were incorrect. None of these leads will have been converted into supplied vehicles as the favourably priced funders have pulled them off system.