Italy launches pilot social long-term vehicle rental program

Italy has introduced a pilot program for social long-term vehicle rentals, designed to improve mobility for low-income households. Presented by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy alongside ACI, the experimental measure will run until June 30, 2030.

The program targets individuals with an ISEE below 30,000 euros. It allows for the rental of new M1 category vehicles that meet Euro 6 standards and emit no more than 135 grams of CO2 per kilometer. To qualify, participants must scrap a vehicle older than Euro 4 that has been owned for at least 12 months. The rental contracts last at least 36 months, include 12,000 kilometers per year, and feature a subsidized monthly fee of 100 euros, including VAT. At the end of the term, users have the option to purchase the vehicle at a 10% discount on its residual value.

With an initial allocation of approximately 49.99 million euros for 3,675 vehicles, the project is highly selective. However, critics note that because the criteria focus on emissions and Italian registration rather than the industrial origin of the vehicle, the program may inadvertently benefit Chinese manufacturers and production chains.