Lease War Helps Boost SoCal Electric Car Market - Waiting Lists For Some Models - LA Times

[hatrack]

If you've been enticed by the recent spate of cheap lease deals on electric cars, good luck finding one.

Southern California dealers are seeing heavy demand for battery-powered cars, now leasing for as little as $199 a month. Fiat's new 500e has waiting lists even though it hasn't hit dealer lots. And Honda dealers have already sold out of the Fit EV since a $259 lease was announced Thursday. The reaction revealed pent-up demand for electric vehicles — as long as the price is right.

Until recently, most consumers have rejected the cars at sticker prices that can be double those of gas-powered rivals, before $10,000 in state and federal incentives. But a lease-price war appears to have brought electric cars to a tipping point, engaging average consumers who shop on price in addition to eco-conscious buyers looking to make a statement.

Three electric-blue Fits sat gathering dust for about three months at Honda of Santa Monica — until Saturday morning, when customers snapped them up and competed to get on a waiting list. "It's incredible, especially since we haven't had any foot traffic or interest in the car in six months," said Jeff Fletcher, sales manager at Honda of Santa Monica. "I'm not even sure we'll have enough cars for the people on the waiting list."

EDIT

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-autos-electric-cars-sold-out-20130605,0,2362712.story

[kristopher]

1. This is good marketing info for the manufacturers.

Hyundai just announced they also are going to roll out an EV.