Car Leasing Surges in Austria: More Than Half of New Cars Financed This Way

Car leasing has shifted from a corporate perk to a mainstream lifestyle model, particularly in Austria, where it reached a record 59.4% of new car financing in 2025. This surge reflects a growing consumer preference for managing costs and gaining flexibility amidst rising vehicle prices and interest rates.

The trend is fueled by several factors. Since 2020, the consumer price index for cars has jumped 29.3%, making leasing an attractive option to spread out expenses. While financing costs have also increased significantly due to higher central bank rates, they affect both leasing and traditional financing. However, leasing offers a way to mitigate these burdens.

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Leasing is not an economic trend, but a lifestyle model.

The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) also plays a crucial role. With EVs now making up a quarter of new registrations, leasing can incorporate government subsidies, leading to lower monthly payments. Furthermore, leasing helps consumers manage the significant residual value risk associated with EVs, especially given rapid technological advancements and aggressive pricing from Chinese manufacturers. Companies like BYD, Omoda, Jaecoo, and Xpeng are quickly establishing themselves with competitive prices, advanced technology, and strong regional support networks, while Tesla also remains in high demand.

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Fundamentally, the models in demand show that new players from China, such as BYD, Omoda, Jaecoo, or Xpeng, have been able to establish themselves in the market in a very short time. These new brands score not only with low purchase prices, but above all with technology and design and have relied on regional know-how with a dense network of dealers and workshops from the start.