Sales of new passenger cars in France increased at a considerable rate in July this year, thanks mainly to the plug-in electric car segment that grew even faster than the general market. According to fresh data published by L’Avere-France, sales or registrations of new passenger cars in France increased 20 per cent year-over-year to settle at 128,947 units. The segment of plug-in electric car played a key role in the increased sales as this segment grew even faster last month, when a total of 30,097 new passenger electric cars were registered in the country. The figure represents a jump of 50 per cent year-over-year.

In terms of market share, the plug-in electric car segment accounted for 23.3 per cent of the market. It is also worth noting here that the market share of this segment enjoyed a significant growth as it was recorded at 18.7 per cent a year ago.

It is also quite interesting to note here that sales of plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles (PHEVs) increased at a whopping rate of 80 per cent year-over-year to settle at more than 13,000 units. However, one shouldn’t ignore the fact that this unprecedented growth was mainly due to low base in July last year. Obviously, it remains doubtful if the sub-segment of PHEVs will continue to grow faster than the segment of BEVs, but definitely this sub-segment has some potential.

To be more specific, a total of 16,867 passenger BEVs were sold in the European country last month, up 32 per cent at 13.1 per cent market share; while passenger PHEV sales jumped 80 per cent to 13,230 units, grabbing 10.3 per cent of the market.

Sales of light commercial BEVs and light commercial PHEVs were recorded at 2,077 units and 34 units, respectively. While sales of light commercial BEVs increased 158 per cent to account for 7 per cent of the market, sales of light commercial PHEVs declined 29 per cent to account for less than 1 per cent of the market. Thus, total passenger plug-ins settled at 32,208 units, up 54 per cent from the corresponding month of 2022.

In the first seven months (January through July) of this year, slightly more than 262,000 plug-in electric vehicles, including approximately 246,000 passenger plug-in cars, got registered in the Western European country, up 40 per cent year-over-year.

While France is seeing growth in electric car sales, among most popular car brands in the country are Renault, Peugeot and Citroën. The most sold cars in France have been listed below.

Renault Clio: The Renault Clio has historically been a very popular compact car in France due to its affordability and practicality.

Peugeot 208: The Peugeot 208 is another compact car that has gained popularity in France for its stylish design and efficient engines.

Citroën C3: The Citroën C3 is known for its distinctive design and comfort features, making it a popular choice among French consumers.

Renault Captur: The Renault Captur is a compact SUV that has been well-received in France for its versatility and urban-friendly size.

Peugeot 3008: The Peugeot 3008 is a compact crossover SUV that gained popularity for its modern design and technological features.

Renault Twingo: The Renault Twingo is a compact city car that has been favored for its maneuverability and compact size, making it suitable for city driving.

Volkswagen Golf: While not a French brand, the Volkswagen Golf has maintained popularity in France and Europe for its quality, performance, and versatility.

Ford Fiesta: Similar to the Volkswagen Golf, the Ford Fiesta is not French but has a significant presence in the French market due to its compact size and efficiency.

Toyota Yaris: The Toyota Yaris is known for its reliability and fuel efficiency, which have contributed to its popularity in France.