EVs At 22.5% Share In France — Citroën e-C3 On High

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Final Up to date on: third March 2025, 07:33 am

February’s auto market noticed plugin EVs at 22.5% share in France, down from 26.3% 12 months on 12 months. BEVs have been successfully flat YoY, while PHEVs misplaced share. General auto quantity was 141,568 items, roughly flat YoY. The Citroen e-C3 was France’s greatest promoting BEV in February.

February noticed mixed EVs at 22.5% share in France, with full battery electrics (BEVs) at 17.9% and plugin hybrids (PHEVs) at 4.6%. These evaluate with YoY figures of 26.3% mixed, 18.1% BEV, and eight.2% PHEV.

The plugin market is at the moment nonetheless irregular, formed by a mid-February supply deadline to efficiently qualify for the 2024 eco-bonus (which is considerably decreasing thereafter). As we famous final month, the PHEV market is now dampened by a weight tax which has been utilized to the category for the primary time from January 1st 2025, making the year-on-year comparability look unfavourable.

We should await the top of Q2 for these uneven coverage influences (each this 12 months, and within the YoY baseline) to disperse, and in addition for the brand new Tesla Mannequin Y (virtually 10% of the French BEV market in 2024) to reach in first rate volumes. The mid-year can even seemingly see the additional ramp up of the extra inexpensive BEVs (R5, e-C3, Inster, Panda) to increased volumes, and the arrival of the likes of the Citroen e-C3 Aircross, and Renault 4.

In the meantime, what’s left of the plugless market continues to maneuver over to the short-term repair of extra mild-hybridization and extra HEVs, such that combustion-only powertrains proceed to fall.

Diesel-only noticed quantity drop from 10,221 to six,707 YoY (down a 3rd), and share at beneath 5% for the second consecutive month. Petrol-only quantity fell from 48,075 to 35,110 YoY (down 27%) and share of beneath 25% for the second time (following December ‘24). Until there’s some one-off pull-forward of those powertrains, it’s exhausting to see diesels climbing again over 5% and petrols can even quickly (by H2 this 12 months) constantly be beneath 25%.

Finest Promoting BEV Fashions

The Citroen e-C3 was the most effective promoting BEV in February, with 3,058 items, a sliver forward of the Renault 5 (3,034 items). This was the Citroen’s first time within the high spot since October.

The Tesla Mannequin Y took third place, with 1,738 items.

The Citroen e-C3’s sturdy volumes have now established it firmly within the high 3 over latest months, vying with the Renault 5, and Tesla Mannequin Y. As soon as the Mannequin Y refresh ramps within the subsequent few months, we will anticipate it to take a powerful lead within the final month of every quarter, and the Renault prone to usually outcompete the Citroen for the highest spot within the remaining months.

Keep in mind, that these extra inexpensive fashions (the Citroen and Renault) notably profit, as a proportion of their value, from the eco-bonus (in comparison with costlier fashions). The Citroen particularly noticed a powerful pull-forward forward of the mid-February deadline for the (increased) 2024 bonus, and won’t seemingly maintain these month-to-month volumes (no less than within the quick time period). See the evaluation of the wonderful Raphaëlle Baut for extra on this. To place it merely, it’ll seemingly be the Renault and Tesla that are usually competing for the highest spot by the center of this 12 months. That’s, until Citroen has a large manufacturing ramp (and maybe a value trim) within the works.

The array of different faces within the high 20 aren’t any nice shock, though some fashions put in notable performances. The Volkswagen ID.3 noticed its highest volumes since June, with 822 items (once more, maybe in a pull ahead forward of the eco-bonus deadline). Likewise with Cupra Born, at 679 items, even edging forward of its earlier peak in June.

Since debuting at low quantity late final 12 months, the brand new Alpine A-290 has stored climbing, with February seeing a brand new excessive of 480 items, breaking into the highest 20 for the primary time (sixteenth spot), however once more, this can be as a result of bonus deadline. The brand new Kia EV3, which debuted round the same time, has additionally stepped up, although stays simply exterior the highest 20 for now.

As traditional, we sadly don’t have the depth of gross sales knowledge to identify the preliminary debuts and early climbs of recent BEV fashions. However let’s maintain an eye fixed out for the Hyundai Inster, the Fiat Grande Panda, and later this 12 months, the Citroen e-C3 Aircross, and Renault 4. Any of those might enter the highest 20 sooner or later later this 12 months.

In the meantime, right here’s a have a look at the trailing 3-month chart, which smooths out the month-to-month variations:

The brand new Renault 5 has now firmly established itself within the high spot, after three very sturdy months. The Renault has already overtaken the Tesla Mannequin Y’s 2024 month-to-month averages, however the latter’s imminent refresh could slender that hole a bit. Each are compelling autos in their very own proper, however the mass-market value section of the Renault clearly exposes it to better general demand.

Other than the Renault now climbing up from third within the earlier interval (September to November), there’s little motion within the high 11. The one exception is the Dacia Spring, which has come again to first rate quantity since November. Evidently Renault Group has determined to soak up the heavy hit to the Spring’s margins from bonus-exclusion and tariffs.

The Audi This autumn e-tron, in 14th, has seen its strongest ever 3 months in France, with a change in quantity which is a little bit uncommon for an older (and premium) mannequin. Was there a pointy price-cut late final 12 months? Please tell us within the feedback, when you have insights.

Search for the Alpine A-290 to doubtlessly be a part of the highest 20 within the coming couple of months (until February was only a one-off stretch to seize the eco-bonus).

Outlook

The flat YoY auto market no less than reveals some stability, and is a greater consequence than the everyday YoY drop which has attended 10 out of the previous 12 months. The broader French financial system has slowed down, with This autumn YoY development in GDP of simply 0.6% – its weakest YoY development since 2020. Inflation cooled to 0.8% and rates of interest are at 2.9%. Manufacturing PMI improved to 45.8 factors in February, up from 45.0 in January.

With an irregular baseline (because of final 12 months’s social leasing scheme), new PHEV taxes, and an eco-bonus deadline – we will’t but level to a constant sample rising in 2025. As I discussed in final month’s report, we will anticipate the EU area as an entire to see BEV share within the vary of 20% to 22% for full 12 months 2025, as a result of tighter emissions guidelines.

Most legacy producers are nonetheless doing “as little as legally doable” to construct BEVs, and the general market is formed by regulation, not innovation (with some exceptions). The legacy producers can even prioritise their BEV provide into nations that also supply some buy incentives (permitting them to successfully cost the next sticker value), relative to these nations which have none (taking a look at you Germany). France could land on the upside of this equation, and 2025 can’t be worse general than Europe’s backsliding in 2024.

What are your ideas concerning the French EV market? What fashions are you looking out for, or do you anticipate to be hottest this 12 months? Please bounce into the feedback part beneath and be a part of the dialogue.