Italy launches a social leasing scheme offering new cars for €100 per month, modeled on France’s program and managed by the ACI
Executive summary: The Italian government revealed a social leasing program that will lease new cars to eligible low‑income families for €100 per month, with the ACI overseeing vehicle procurement and a click‑day allocation process. It directly addresses affordability barriers for car ownership among lower‑income households and could boost vehicle sales and leasing market activity.
Who is involved: Italian Ministry of Economy (program design), ACI (implementation), families with Isee < €30,000 (beneficiaries), automotive manufacturers and leasing companies (suppliers).
Likely next: A click‑day for the first 3,000 vehicles is expected within the next four weeks; deliveries of the initial batch are slated for completion by the end of Q4 2026, after which the program may be expanded.
The initiative, announced on 24 July 2026, will initially make about 3,000 vehicles available to households with an Isee below €30,000 through a click‑day allocation. By copying the French social leasing model, the government aims to improve mobility for low‑income families while stimulating demand in the automotive sector. The scheme’s success will depend on how quickly the ACI can procure and deliver the vehicles and on the fiscal sustainability of the subsidy.
Timeline
- — Arriva il leasing sociale: auto nuova a 100 euro al mese. Ecco come funziona e quali sono i tempi (la Repubblica — Economia)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Click‑day for Isee < €30k families anticipated by late August 2026 (within 30 days of announcement).
- First batch of approximately 3,000 vehicles to be delivered by 31 December 2026.
Sectors affected
- Automotive leasing
- Low‑income consumer finance
- Government social policy
Regulatory implications
- Program administered by ACI and funded through the national budget, subject to EU State Aid clearance.
- Monitoring of compliance with EU competition rules to avoid undue advantage.
Historical parallels
- French social leasing (loyer social) for electric vehicles launched in 2021, offering €100/month leases.
- Italian ‘Bonus Auto’ incentive scheme introduced in 2020 to support car purchases.
Key entities
Sources
- Arriva il leasing sociale: auto nuova a 100 euro al mese. Ecco come funziona e quali sono i tempi — la Repubblica — Economia
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