In 2025, the French car market will undergo a discreet but structuring change. A number of hybrid and, above all, 100% electric models are leaving manufacturers’ catalogues. Far from being a mere passing fad, these disappearances are indicative of a profound reorganisation of the range, under the combined effect of new European standards, profitability under pressure and a strategic repositioning of brands in the face of an electric market that is more demanding than expected.
A pivotal year for electric vehicles in France
The year 2025 marks a turning point in the recent history of automotive electrification in France. After several years of rapid growth, the electric vehicle market is entering a more complex phase of maturity, in which each model must now justify its existence on solid industrial, regulatory and commercial foundations. And this inevitably means that some vehicles, some of them quite recent, are simply disappearing from the catalogue.
This phenomenon mainly affects electric models that have reached the end of their cycle, or have been designed on platforms that are now considered obsolete. While existing stocks still allow a few deliveries at the end of the year, these vehicles are no longer being offered for new orders. This may come as a surprise to consumers, but it is a clear sign of a brutal (and necessary) tightening of market conditions.
They bowed out in 2025
Among the models concerned, several names well known to the French public are leaving the scene. The Mazda MX-30, the Japanese manufacturer’s first electric car, is an emblematic example. Its limited range, which was originally seen as an ecological choice, never convinced a market that had become very sensitive to the price/real mileage ratio. In France, its volumes have remained marginal, making any regulatory upgrade economically untenable. Another striking case is that of MG. The Sino-British manufacturer is stopping the sale of several of its electric models in France, including the ZS EV, the Marvel R and the MG5 Electric. The reason for this is the European GSR2 standard, which comes into force in July 2024 and requires new driving aids and more advanced safety systems. Adapting these existing models would have required heavy investment, which would have been difficult to recoup given their aggressive selling prices.
Some disappearances have more to do with life-cycle logic than commercial failure. Such is the case with the Nissan Leaf, a true pioneer of the modern electric vehicle. Launched in 2010, it paved the way for consumer electrification, but its technical architecture and positioning are no longer in phase with current standards. In 2025, the Leaf will gradually disappear from European catalogues, pending a successor based on a new platform. At Renault, the page is also being turned for two historic models. The Zoé, long the best-selling electric car in France, is disappearing following the arrival of the Renault 5 E-Tech, which is more modern, more profitable and better equipped to face up to the competition. The same logic applies to the Twingo Electric, withdrawn before the arrival of a new generation announced for 2026. In both cases, it’s less a question of taking a step back than of refocusing on more coherent long-term industrial projects.
GSR2, a silent accelerator of withdrawals
Behind these marketing halts lies a key factor: the European GSR2 standard. These regulations now require a whole range of driving aids to be fitted as standard, including enhanced automatic emergency braking, active lane keeping and advanced driver monitoring systems. For models designed before these requirements, adaptation can be complex and costly.
Against a backdrop of pressure on margins, particularly for entry-level and mid-range electric vehicles, many manufacturers have made a pragmatic choice. They have decided to discontinue the models concerned rather than invest in an upgrade, which they consider to be unprofitable. This reasoning goes a long way towards explaining the disappearance of certain Asian vehicles and first-generation electric vehicles, which are still technically functional.
Hybrids and plug-ins: a different trajectory
Unlike electric cars, hybrids and plug-in hybrids will not see a massive wave of retirements in 2025. The movement is more subtle. Some models will discreetly disappear from the range, but the dominant trend remains one of renewal and optimisation rather than outright abandonment. Plug-in hybrids, in particular, are facing a less favourable environment. The tightening of the CO₂ malus and the gradual end of certain tax benefits for businesses are reducing their appeal, especially for heavy models or those with limited real electric use. Even so, manufacturers are continuing to believe in them, by modernising their powertrains, increasing battery capacity or improving electronic management.
In France, the single hybrid is gradually becoming the preferred motoring choice for motorists. More reassuring to use, less dependent on recharging infrastructure and often more affordable, it is better suited to the actual uses of a large proportion of the population. This success explains why manufacturers, particularly Japanese and European, are stepping up their hybrid offerings in 2025. Toyota, Hyundai-Kia, Renault and Stellantis are all continuing to roll out new-generation hybrids, sometimes to the detriment of certain electric versions that are considered less strategic. Hybrids are becoming the mainstay of the transition, while all-electric vehicles must now prove their relevance on a model-by-model basis, rather than as a matter of course across the board.
Towards more selective and credible electrification
These withdrawals do not signal a retreat from electrification, but rather a phase of rationalisation. After a period of experimentation and sometimes excessive diversification, the market is entering a more industrial logic, where each vehicle must be economically viable and compatible with regulatory constraints in the medium term. By 2035, the objective of ending sales of new combustion-powered vehicles remains officially in place, despite European debates on the modalities and possible exceptions. In the meantime, the range will continue to evolve, with fewer models, but with more advanced offerings that are better adapted to the real uses and expectations of French motorists.
Ultimately, the electric and hybrid models that will disappear from our catalogues in 2025 tell a broader story: that of a car market in the throes of change. Stricter standards, more demanding customers, margins under pressure… Electrification is beginning to look like a balancing act for manufacturers. This reorganisation marks the end of a certain naivety about electric vehicles. The future will depend on the overall coherence of projects.
