As France prepares to ban the sale of new combustion-powered cars from 2035, the electric car is gradually establishing itself as the mainstay of tomorrow’s mobility.
By 2035, as announced by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, all new cars in France will be electric, because it will be forbidden to sell combustion-powered cars. In 10 years’ time, the face of France will have changed radically. More autonomous, more intelligent, more connected, the car of the future promises a major transformation in usage.
Autonomy boosted tenfold by technology
Fears about range, long considered to be the main obstacle to the adoption of electric cars, could be lifted in the next decade. A Blue Solutions gigafactory is planned in France to produce solid batteries with a range of up to 1,000 kilometres and recharge times of 20 minutes. These batteries, which have an energy density 30% to 40% greater than current lithium-ion cells, should be in large-scale production by 2030.
In terms of infrastructure, France expects to see a marked acceleration: according to ADEME, more than 400,000 public charging points will be deployed by 2030, compared with around 120,000 today. In addition, players such as Renault and Stellantis believe that ultra-fast charging technologies will enable 80% of the battery to be recovered in less than ten minutes in the medium term.
Artificial intelligence at the wheel
The real revolution is likely to come from on-board intelligence. According to a study published in March 2025 by European researchers, level 4 or 5 autonomous vehicles could account for a significant proportion of new vehicle registrations in Europe by 2035. These vehicles would be capable of travelling without human intervention under certain conditions, transforming the driving experience.
In France, companies are already working on systems incorporating cameras, lidars and artificial intelligence capable of managing driving in complex urban environments. According to IFP Énergies Nouvelles, these systems will learn to anticipate road behaviour, adapt to the user’s driving style and optimise journeys in real time.
France 2035, an electric car that’s always connected
In 2035, the car will also be a mobile digital terminal. Thanks to 5G – or even 6G – networks, vehicles will be in constant communication with their environment: other cars, road infrastructure, the user’s home, etc. This connectivity will enable remote software updates, seamless interaction with connected objects in the home, and even the integration of voice assistants. This connectivity will enable remote software updates, seamless interaction with connected objects in the home, and the integration of ultra-personalised voice assistants.
The Software République project, launched by Renault with Atos, Dassault Systèmes, STMicroelectronics and Thales, illustrates this trend towards a car that becomes a digital service: users will be able to manage their diary, calls, entertainment and even home automation from their dashboard.
A technological… and social revolution
But this revolution also poses human challenges. According to the France 2030 report presented by the government, major efforts will have to be made to support this transition: support for the purchase of electric vehicles, training in automated driving, and retraining for jobs in the automotive industry. The issue of digital inclusion and access to technology for all will also be at the heart of the debate.
In ten years’ time, the car will no longer be a simple mechanical object. It will become an intelligent, connected space, integrated into our lifestyles and infrastructures. Provided that this development remains at the service of sustainable, accessible and equitable mobility.
