Supermarket chain Lidl launches vehicle leasing in Germany

The low price serves as a way for the manufacturers to move on excess stock, which was not sold during the pandemic and make way for new models as German customers return to showrooms. The vehicles cannot be configured, as they have already been built, but they are available for delivery at short notice.

Available through the Lidl-Autos website, buyers are redirected to Vehiculum – a start-up which specialises in online contract hire – where they choose a vehicle and sign a contract with Sixt Leasing.

Lidl previously offered cars for lease via a partnership with Vehiculum between February and May 2019, when it advertised a limited run of 1,000 Fiat 500s for €89 per month. At the time, the supermarket said that the offer enabled its customers to lease a car quickly and easily. Offering a “fair price” and “a completely digital and contemporary ordering process”, Lidl stated that the full allocation of leases was signed within one week.

The supermarket’s most recent move into leasing is said to have raised ire between Kia and its dealer network, as the has allegedly taken issue with a lack of consultation prior to the launch of the online initiative.

The offering builds on an interesting concept, where consumers are able to lease a vehicle from their local supermarket alongside their monthly shop. However, it remains unclear whether the supermarket chain plans to bring the vehicle leasing venture into additional markets, or whether any interest generated by the offering is due to the restricted buying experienced during the lockdowns.