For the first time, 100% electric cars have exceeded 25% market share in France. Boosted by social leasing and the arrival of eagerly-awaited new models such as the Renault 5 E-Tech, the French car market is seeing its transition accelerate.
The state of the car market in France
The French car market continues to shrink. In November 2025, registrations fell by a further 0.29%, bringing the total for the first eleven months to 1,459,227 vehicles, a far cry from the 1.755 million recorded in 2024. Internal combustion engines now account for just 21.6% of sales, a shift unprecedented in the sector’s recent history. Against this backdrop, electric vehicles are emerging as the only growth driver. It accounted for 26% of registrations in November alone, or around 34,000 electric passenger cars. The segment is therefore up by almost 47% compared with November 2024. Experts attribute this growth to both public subsidies and the arrival of more affordable models that are better positioned to compete with combustion-powered alternatives.
If electric cars are becoming more popular, it’s also because certain models are clearly leading the market. Renault is the most striking example of this. The Group’s sales rose by 4% in November, despite Dacia’s decline, driven by the Renault 5 E-Tech, which has had a real « novelty » effect. With more than 5,000 registrations in November, the electric city car is the best-selling zero-emission vehicle not only for the month but also for the year. It has overtaken the Peugeot e-208, the Renault Scénic E-Tech and the Citroën ë-C3, confirming that its aggressive pricing strategy and strong nostalgic appeal are a winning combination.
Benchmark and social leasing
Unlike Renault, the Stellantis group had a mixed November. Overall sales were down by 5.5%, weighed down by a 12.2% fall for Peugeot, despite a clear 14.2% rise for Citroën. This trend reflects the fact that the transition to electric vehicles is still unevenly spread across the Group’s brands. But it is Tesla that has suffered the most spectacular setback. The American manufacturer recorded a 57.83% fall in sales over the year in France. There are a number of overlapping factors: increased competition from European brands, higher taxes (weight tax, malus) and a more polarising brand image. Despite all this, the Model 3 is still a top seller, but nowhere near the record volumes seen between 2023 and 2024.
Behind the success of zero-emission powertrains lies a recurring theme: social leasing. Renewed in October 2025 and now open to around 50,000 beneficiaries, the scheme gives low-income households access to a new electric car for €100 to €200 a month, with no deposit required. More than 41,500 contracts had been signed by the end of October, confirming the massive appeal of the scheme. Partly financed by energy saving certificates, the scheme is aimed at motorists with a reference tax income per unit of less than €15,400, provided they can prove that they use the vehicle regularly. Without this measure, the electric drive would probably have been much more modest. Public support is currently the main driver of growth.
Hybrids still in the majority, but losing ground
While electric cars are breaking records, hybrids, in the broadest sense of the term, still account for the majority of electrified powertrains. In November 2025, they will account for around 48% of the market, still a massive share but slightly down on 2024. Conventional hybrids (FHEVs) will account for around 18.9% of sales, or just over 25,000 registrations. Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) account for around 7% of the market, with around 9,000 registrations. Their growth is slowing markedly, a sign that the transition is no longer based solely on a thermal-electric compromise, but more on complete electrification.
While the figures are encouraging, their sustainability raises questions. A number of observers have pointed out that the high share of electric cars, between 24% and 26% in recent months, is heavily dependent on public support: the ecological bonus, the heat tax, but above all the social leasing. But can the market maintain these levels if support is reduced or withdrawn? At the same time, motorists are also discovering the specific costs of electric cars. Insurance, in particular, varies greatly from one insurer to another. Experts systematically recommend an all-risk policy for electric vehicles, as repairs are more complex and parts are often more expensive.
A historic but fragile transition
November 2025 therefore marks a turning point in French automotive history. The symbolism is strong, the momentum real, and the range has never been so broad and competitive. But behind this spectacular acceleration, the market remains totally dependent on public subsidies. The year 2026 will tell whether France has really switched over to electric cars, or whether the transition is still too dependent on financial support to compensate for a weakened market.
