The new French car market is going through a complicated period. In July 2025, sales were still 7.7% down on last year. Even though the government is proposing subsidies to encourage electric cars, the sector is not really picking up. On the other hand, electric and hybrid cars continue to sell well, or at least better than conventional cars.
A declining overall market
Just over 116,000 new cars were sold in France in July, according to figures published on Friday by the French car manufacturers’ association (PFA). Since the start of the year, fewer than one million cars have been purchased, which is a fairly low figure compared with previous years. All types of buyer have been affected: private individuals are buying fewer cars, as are businesses, AAA Data said in a press release. The exception is car rental companies, which are selling more vehicles on a short-term basis.
Petrol and diesel cars down sharply
Traditional cars, which run on petrol or diesel, are seeing their sales fall sharply. In 2025, petrol sales fell by 34% and diesel sales by 41% compared with the previous year. This trend shows that buyers are gradually turning away from these engines.
Hybrid and electric cars are gaining ground
Hybrid cars, which combine a combustion engine with an electric motor, now account for more than half of all sales (53% in July). These models are becoming increasingly popular, as they consume less fuel.
100% electric cars are also making progress, accounting for around 17% of the market in July, with sales up by 15%. This increase is mainly due to purchases by companies. However, private customers are still somewhat reluctant to switch to electric cars, despite the financial assistance available.
Brands and their performance
Renault remains the leader in electric cars in France, with sales up sharply by 24.4%. BMW, Mini, Ford, MG and BYD are also making good progress, thanks in particular to their new electric or hybrid models. On the other hand, some brands such as Peugeot and Tesla are seeing their electric car sales fall.
What are the prospects?
The French car market is still fragile. The new ecological bonus and the electric leasing scheme are due to arrive in September. They could encourage more private customers to buy electric cars. But for the moment, the recovery is not yet visible.
In the meantime, hybrid cars remain the preferred choice for many buyers. They represent an intermediate solution between conventional cars and 100% electric cars.
