Between a scathing tesla in the face of Elon Musk’s positions and an expected R5 in the turn after a promising start last year, it was a particularly expected march in the French electric market.
Sales of zero emission models that have fallen greatly from one year to the next, with a social lease that had played an accelerating role in March 2024.
Result: Electricity records by private clients fell 46% last month, says the AAA automotive data specialist. A fall partially compensated by business fleets, with electric purchases up to 54%. In total, electricity sales go back 14%, a slightly lower fall than the entire French market. Enough to maintain the participation of zero emission purchases, 18.2% in this first quarter of 2025, only 18% of the same period in 2024.
Renault and Tesla on Mars’s podium
If we observe the 10 main sales this March, the R5 ends from a distance with 3,340 units, thanks to the data provided by the NGC data. The French little one, who has recently benefited from a “entry level” version with a more limited battery, is ahead of the Tesla star model: model and, in 2,318 units. This March marked the beginning of marketing of the new version of the SUV.
A fairly successful launch at first sight since Tesla began with the highest versions of this model. For the propulsion version, of 45,000 euros, the first deliveries are currently planned as of May.
Finally, in the third place this March, we find the Renault Scenic, with 2,225 units. A family model that manages to keep up with Tesla.
A single model produced outside of Europe in the Top 10
Among the other models that appear on this Top March 10, we find the Citroën ë-C3, the Peugeot E-208, E-2008 and E-3008, the Renault Mégane E-Tech and the Volkswagen ID.3. Models produced in Europe and that, therefore, can benefit from ecological bonus.
Only one exception: the Tesla Model 3, ninth with 819 units. Unlike the model and, produced in the Berlin factory for Europe, the sedan is assembled in the Shanghai factory, in China and, therefore, has not benefited from the ecological bonus since last year.
Chinese brand models are still far
The trend is quite close if we observe sales since the beginning of the year, with the Citroën ë-C3, which simply takes second place, behind the R5, in front of Tesla Model and Renault Scenic.
Twelfth in March, the spring of Dacia remains in this top 10 of the beginning of the year, despite its production in China, which also made it lose access to ecological bonus.
But beyond these few models produced in China, you must download much more in the ranking to find a Chinese brand. The MG4 (SAIC Group) has been relegated to the 38th place with only 508 copies since the beginning of the year. It is not better for Byd, with little Dolphin 44th with 389 units.
Xpeng, who also feeds strong ambitions in France, places its G6, a direct competitor of the model and, just behind: it has been 46º with 358 records since the beginning of the year.
Source: BFM TV
