Just over a million and a half. This is the number of new cars registered last year. To find such a low figure, you have to go back to… 1975. For comparison, between 2013 and 2019 an average of 2 million cars were sold per year. The drop in new car sales in France is even more worrying since it started three years ago.
Compared to 2019, which was an excellent vintage, the cumulative deficit in new car registrations is close to two million units. In other words, the average age of cars on the road in France continues to increase year after year. On January 1, 2022, it had already increased by 2 months, reaching only 11 years, double that of 1990.
New cars whose price has risen by 8.6%
The difficulties experienced by French car dealers are easily explained. In 2020 and 2021, they were rightly blamed for the lack of availability. Manufacturers faced shortages that drastically reduced production rates in their factories.
But in 2022, motorists had to face a new deal: a very significant price increase. INSEE estimates it at 8.6% on average for a year. And this inflation has affected city cars and, in general, the cheapest and most popular models even more.
The Dacia Spring, the best-selling electric car for individuals
The Dacia Sandero 3, for example, which established itself in 2022 as the second best-selling car in France (64,293 copies compared to 88,812 for the Peugeot 208 II) saw the price of its basic version drop from less than 10,000 euros to almost 11,500. euros, an increase of 15%. Additionally, auto loan rates have risen, mechanically reducing the number of households that can afford a new car.
What is true for thermal cars is obviously also true for 100% electric versions. Last year, the Dacia Spring -the most affordable on the market- established itself as the most purchased in France by individuals (16,257 copies) ahead of the Tesla Model 3 (12,504) sold for 35,000 euros more expensive.
From this point of view, we can say that the French market is increasingly similar to the Spanish and Italian ones, marking its difference with the German market, where Tesla largely dominates the market and where the Dacia Spring struggles to seduce very demanding motorists in terms of quality.
Alpine’s success, small consolation for Renault
Small consolation, however, there are a handful of French motorists who buy high-end cars. Maserati sales have increased considerably (+44%). And Renault can only congratulate itself on giving the factory that produces the Alpines in Dieppe a chance.
The group’s high-end brand has had an excellent year in the French market with 2,138 units registered (+32% compared to 2021). This bodes well for the engineers and designers working on the three new models that Alpine plans to bring to market in the next few years.
Source: BFM TV
