In full-year 2024, the new car market in France contracted by 3% to 1.7 million passenger vehicle registrations with electric vehicle sales also lower.
2024 (January to December): passenger vehicle registrations in France remained well below pre-pandemic levels with sales down 3.17% to only 1,718,416 cars. Petrol remained the leading fuel type but diesel sales continued to contract. Battery-electric cars gained some market share despite selling in lower volumes.
In 2024, the French new car market contracted by 3.17% to 1,718,416 cars, Renault, Peugeot, and Dacia were again the best-selling car brands while the Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 were the top-selling car models in France.
Latest French Car Sales Statistics — 2024: Market Overview, Brands, Models; 2023 – 2020.
New Car Market in France in 2024 (Full Year)
In the full calendar year 2024, the new light vehicles market in France contracted by 2.5% to 2,100,267 vehicles compared to 2,153,937 vehicles in 2023. The market consisted of the following main categories:
- Passenger vehicle registrations decreased by 3.17% to 1,718,416 cars.
- Light commercial vehicle registrations in France increased slightly by 0.7% to 381,851 vehicles in 2024.
In addition, sales of heavy commercial vehicles (5.1 tons plus) were flat at 48,982 (48,877 in 2023) trucks, lorries, and buses.
French car sales by month in the previous four years were as follows according to the CCFA:
Passenger Car Sales in France by Year (2009 to 2024)
New passenger vehicle registrations in France were as follows in the full calendar years since 2009:
| Year | Sales | % Change |
| 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 2024 with the French new car market significantly smaller in the last five years than in the period preceding the pandemic.
New Car Sales in France: 2024 Market Analysis
The French new car market continued to struggle in 2024. The two large French car manufacturing conglomerates Stellantis and Renault both had weaker sales. All the large French car brands had weaker sales despite the top-selling brands remaining Renault, Peugeot, and Dacia.
In contrast, the Volkswagen and Toyota Groups made gains but sales remained far below those of the French carmakers.
Political instability and economic uncertainty also 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.
Fuel Types and Market Share for New Cars in France in 2024
The fuel types of new cars sold in France in 2024 were as follows:
| Fuel Type | 2024 | % Share | 2023 | % Share | 2022 | % Share |
| Petrol | 507,757 | 29.5 | 641,588 | 36.2 | 568,880 | 37.2 |
| Diesel | 124,952 | 7.3 | 171,737 | 9.7 | 239,111 | 15.6 |
| Hybrids | 735,288 | 42.8 | 595,242 | 33.5 | 459,212 | 30.0 |
| — of which plug-ins | 146,292 | 8.5 | 162,952 | 9.2 | 126,549 | 8.3 |
| Battery Electric | 291,143 | 16.9 | 298,522 | 16.8 | 203,121 | 13.3 |
Petrol remains the main method of propulsion for new cars registered for the first time in France in 2024. The market share of petrol-engined cars fell below 30% while diesel dropped to 7.3%.
Hybrids made the most gains but this category is widely defined and most cars run predominantly on petrol. Plug-in hybrid sales contracted.
Battery-electric car sales were also weaker but gained 0.1% market share in France in 2024.
In 2024, the French new car market contracted by 3.17% to 1,718,416 cars, Renault, Peugeot, and Dacia were again the best-selling car brands while the Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 were the top-selling car models in France.
Latest French Car Sales Statistics — 2024: Market Overview, Brands, Models; 2023 – 2020.
