Electricity continues to advance in France. In a market in slight decline in March, zero-emission models accounted for 19% of new car sales.
On the rise with hybrids
During the first three months of the year, the share of electric vehicles stood at 18%, or 2.6 points more than in the first quarter of 2023. Only hybrids (all technologies combined) obtain better results with an increase in 5.9 points. Partially electrified models currently represent 36.8% of the new French market. They are thus ahead of “simple” gasoline engines (-5.1 points, up to 33.4%).
Diesel, for its part, continues to decline: in the first quarter of 2023, cars running on diesel represented more than 7.5% of the new market.
An electricity market in perfusion
“We are lucky to still have bonuses, whether from social leasing or from last year (of 5,000 euros, compared to 4,000 euros in 2024) that are still available in this first quarter (…), this shows that when there are support From the State, the electricity market remains firm,” explained François Roudier, spokesperson for the Automotive Sector Platform (PFA) on BFM Business, this Monday, April 1. On the contrary, in Germany, the end of purchase aid has caused a drop in sales of electric vehicles since the beginning of the year, he points out.
In France, the 2023 ecological bonus of 5,000 euros was maintained for orders placed before February 13, 2024 and for delivery before May 15. Therefore, its effect should be noticeable until the middle of the second trimester. Maintaining the aid, certainly reduced to 4,000 euros for all French (and the superbonus left at 7,000 euros for the lowest incomes), should also help sustain the market for the rest of the year.
A “social lease” effect?
However, at the moment it is difficult to judge the effect of “social leasing”, as communication from the government and manufacturers on this issue has been confusing to say the least. Without a doubt, the system was a victim of its success with 50,000 validated files compared to the 25,000 initially planned, but deliveries of these LOA models can extend over several months. Therefore, it remains impossible to know the proportion of these subsidized contracts in the figures from the beginning of the year, since the sale is recorded at the time of delivery and not at the time of the order.
The effect on volume remains important and will therefore be evident at least throughout the year: the 50,000 validated files represent more than 62% of the total electric registrations in France in the first quarter of 2024, and slightly less than 17% of last year’s sales.
The e-208 ahead of the Tesla Model Y and the Fiat 500 in March
If we take a look at the top 10 best-selling electric models in March according to data provided by NGC Data, the Peugeot e-208 remains at the top. The Tesla Model Y surpasses the Fiat 500 and rises to second place. Let’s see what effect the price increase of 2,000 euros effective since last week in France will have on the basic version of the American brand’s SUV.
The Twingo, which came in a surprising fourth place, probably benefited from a social leasing effect. In fact, the small electric city car was one of the lowest rentals: 40 euros per month.
Three models from this March top 10, the Tesla Model 3, Volvo EX30 and MG4, are no longer eligible for the bonus since December 15 and the application of the environmental score. But for those orders before this date, delivery before March 15 will still allow you to benefit from it.
That is why we also find a certain Dacia Spring among the top 10 of the first quarter (2,853 units from January to March). The most affordable electric car on the market had thus achieved orders before losing the bonus and the announcement of a new version that will soon be marketed.
Source: BFM TV
