“Almost everyone leases the car,” Toyota U.S. sales chief David Christ said in a recent interview. The Japanese-made SUV, which qualifies for a $7,500 federal subsidy only if it’s leased, illustrates a broader shift in the way car companies are marketing electric cars to consumers, with more-affordable monthly payments and no long-term commitment. People who leased the Toyota in 2024 paid $445 a month on average, compared with $717 for those who financed the car through a purchase loan, according to credit bureau Experian.