I wondered where these cars are produced, so I looked it up:
Dacia Spring: 🇨🇳
Citroen e-C3: 🇸🇰🇪🇺 / 🇷🇸
Renault 5 E-Tech: 🇫🇷🇪🇺
FIAT Grande Panda: 🇷🇸
Citroen e-C3 Aircross: 🇸🇰🇪🇺
Renault 4 E-Tech: 🇫🇷🇪🇺
FIAT 500e: 🇮🇹🇪🇺
Opel Corsa Electric: 🇪🇸🇪🇺
Opel Frontera Electric: 🇸🇰🇪🇺
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure: 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Citroen e-C4: 🇪🇸🇪🇺
Citroen e-C4 X: 🇪🇸🇪🇺
Lancia Ypsilon: 🇪🇸🇪🇺
Smart 1 Pure: 🇨🇳
Mini Cooper E: 🇨🇳
Skoda Elroq 50: 🇨🇿🇪🇺
Peugeot e-208: 🇸🇰🇪🇺 / (🇪🇸🇪🇺?)
FIAT 600e: 🇵🇱🇪🇺
Cupra Born: 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Renault Megane E-Tech: 🇫🇷🇪🇺
Smart 1 Pro: 🇨🇳
Mini Aceman E: 🇨🇳
Alpine A290 Electric: 🇫🇷🇪🇺
Citroen e-Berlingo: 🇪🇸🇪🇺 / 🇵🇹🇪🇺 / 🇬🇧
Volvo EX30 Single Motor: 🇨🇳 / 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (as of 2025)
Smart 3 Pro: 🇨🇳
Peugeot e-308: 🇫🇷🇪🇺
Volkswagen ID.3 Pro: 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Peugeot e-2008: 🇪🇸🇪🇺
So take heed if you actually want to buy from EU and not China.
Thanks for your effort.
I would prefer a list around 25k, but any list is better than none.
This list is based on the list above:
- Dacia Spring - €18.900
- Citroen e-C3 - €23.300
- Fiat Grande Panda - €24.990
If you are willing to look outside of Europe (not considering Chinese offerings) then I found the Hyundai Inster to be a very compelling option too at €24.295
Got a pretty good impression of affordable EVs and their pros and cons (got a list of my own).
Apart of some minor issues, the inster is also my current non-European fav. Had the chance to take a closer look at a local deal, sadly only the entry level model. The slow charger, the battery chemistry and some cheap plastic knobs are the only cons I can see.
The price might differ in various countries. In Austria, I saw an offer for the e-C3 starting at 19.000€.
Yeah there is some slight variation between countries. I took the German price listed on EV Database
What’s wrong with Chinese offerings, don’t they offer far better value?
This community is called buyFromEU after all.
European affordable EVs are quite competitive with Chinese offerings from what I’ve seen.
I exclude Chinese EVs for two reasons:
- I don’t know all the offerings from Chinese brands in Europe. Fairly certain it’s mostly only BYD right now?
- I consider the Chinese cars industry a threat to the European car industry to a far larger degree than brands like Toyota or Hyundai, and I think it is important that the our domestic industry stays alive.
That’s not affordable in any shape or form.
We are talking about new cars here. This is just what new cars cost. The alternative would be going second hand.
I would argue €25k for an EV is very affordable when compared to an equivalent €20k petrol car, because you make up for the difference by saving on the cost of petrol. Assuming you drive a modest 15.000 km per year, and you can only charge at public chargers (which is not the most cost effective way of charging an EV) you still save a small 600 euros per year in petrol costs.
If you want cheap and new, there is always the Citroen Ami too. That car may be speed limited, but it only costs €8.5k
Edit: Added a quick cost comparison between petrol and electric. Assumed prices:
- € 1,85 / L for petrol, using 5.0 L / 100 km
- € 0,35 / kWh for electric, using 15.3 kWh / 100 km
i bought my first car new from the showroom for 11450 euro. The fact that under 40k is considered cheap is depressing
