In full-year 2025, the new car market in France contracted by 5% to 1.6 million passenger vehicle registrations, with electric vehicles taking a record 20% share.
2025 (January to December): passenger vehicle registrations in France fell 5% to only 1,632,154 cars — the second lowest sales number in two decades. Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales were up 14% for a record 20% market share. Diesel cars were down to less than 5% of the French new car market in 2025.
In 2025, the French new car market contracted by 5% to 1,632,154 cars. Renault, Peugeot, and Dacia were again the best-selling car brands in France, while the Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 were the top-selling car models.
Latest French Car Sales Statistics — 2025: Market Overview, Brands, Models; 2024 – 2020.
New Car Market in France in 2025 (Full Year)
French car sales by month in the previous four years were as follows, according to the CCFA:
In the full calendar year 2025, the new light vehicles market in France contracted by 5.12% to 1,992,659 vehicles compared to 2,100,267 vehicles in 2024 and 2,153,937 vehicles in 2023. The French light vehicle market consisted of the following main categories:
- Passenger vehicle registrations contracted by 5.02% to 1,632,154 cars — 86,262 fewer than a year ago.
- Light commercial vehicle registrations in France decreased by a similar 5.59% to 360,505 vehicles.
In addition, sales of heavy commercial vehicles (5.1 tons plus) were down 9.9%to 44,121 (48,982 in 2024) trucks, lorries, and buses.
Passenger Car Sales in France by Year (2009 to 2025)
New passenger vehicle registrations in France were as follows in the full calendar years since 2009:
| Year | Sales | % Change |
| 2025 | 1,632,154 | -5.02 |
| 2024 | 1,718,416 | -3.17 |
| 2023 | 1,774,729 | 16.1 |
| 2022 | 1,529,035 | -7.83 |
| 2021 | 1,659,008 | 0.54 |
| 2020 | 1,650,082 | -25.5 |
| 2019 | 2,214,279 | 1.9 |
| 2018 | 2,173,481 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2,110,751 | 4.7 |
| 2016 | 2,015,186 | 5.1 |
| 2015 | 1,917,230 | 6.8 |
| 2014 | 1,795,913 | 0.3 |
| 2013 | 1,790,473 | -5.7 |
| 2012 | 1,898,872 | -13.9 |
| 2011 | 2,204,229 | -2.1 |
| 2010 | 2,251,669 | 2.2 |
| 2009 | 2,302,398 | |
| Source: CCFA |
Car sales in France remained relatively low in 2025, with the French new car market significantly smaller than the over two million vehicle annual sales in the years preceding 2020.
New Car Sales in France: 2025 Market Analysis
The French new car market continued to struggle in 2025, with sales down for the second consecutive year. The two large French car manufacturing conglomerates had contrasting performances. Stellantis (Peugeot, Citroen) had weaker sales (-7%), while Renault (+1.2%) gained market share in a smaller market. The largest French car brands were again Renault, Peugeot, Dacia, and Citroen.
The Volkswagen Group (-2%) and Toyota Group (-14%) remained the largest foreign carmakers and brands in France.
Political instability and economic uncertainty contributed to a lack of confidence in the market and a willingness to commit to large purchases. High prices, especially for battery-electric vehicles, also put a damper on the market, although the launch of several new, cheaper, and smaller all-electric cars boosted sales in the second half of the year.
Fuel Types and Market Share for New Cars in France in 2025
The fuel types of new cars sold in France in 2025 were as follows:
| Fuel Type | 2025 | % Share | 2024 | % Share | 2023 | % Share | 2022 | % Share |
| Petrol | 345,233 | 21.1 | 507,757 | 29.5 | 641,588 | 36.2 | 568,880 | 37.2 |
| Diesel | 79,397 | 4.9 | 124,952 | 7.3 | 171,737 | 9.7 | 239,111 | 15.6 |
| Hybrids | 823,625 | 50,5 | 735,288 | 42.8 | 595,242 | 33.5 | 459,212 | 30.0 |
| — of which plug-ins | 108,627 | 6.7 | 146,292 | 8.5 | 162,952 | 9.2 | 126,549 | 8.3 |
| Battery Electric | 327,234 | 20 | 291,143 | 16.9 | 298,522 | 16.8 | 203,121 | 13.3 |
The majority of new cars sold in France in 2025 were hybrids, followed by purely petrol-driven vehicles. The market share of petrol-engined cars fell to 21%, while diesels dropped to less than 5%.
Battery-Electric Car Market in France in 2025
Battery-electric car sales made strong gains in France in 2025. Although BEV sales were only 12.4% higher, a weakening market ensured a record market share of 20% for electric cars in France in 2025.
Government incentives, but especially the launch of smaller, cheaper battery-electric cars such as the Renault, boosted the market. In the final quarter of 2025, all-electric cars were a quarter of the new French car market.
In 2025, the French new car market contracted by 5% to 1,632,154 cars. Renault, Peugeot, and Dacia were again the best-selling car brands in France, while the Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 were the top-selling car models.
Latest French Car Sales Statistics — 2025: Market Overview, Brands, Models; 2024 – 2020.