AUTONEWS

Electrified cars register good sales in France

New electrified cars have surpassed 20% market share in France since the beginning of the year, thus setting a new record.

New electric cars and plug-in hybrids increasingly attract drivers to France. The most recent figures indicate that the share of new electrified vehicles exceeded 20% (20.1%) in the January-August period. A value never before achieved in the French market, which confirms the customer's appetite for new electrified models.

First observation of the last eight months, sales of new electric vehicles are exploding. According to data from the manufacturer and the Automotive Platform, 100% electric vehicles account for 12.2% of total registrations in France since the beginning of the year. A figure that has increased sharply in recent months, which is partly explained by the maintenance of aid offered by the State. Manufacturers also highlighted new electrified models to the detriment of new thermal models. Strong media coverage of the upcoming thermal vehicle sales ban in 2035 has also prompted drivers to go electric.

Regarding hybrid vehicles, the situation remains mixed. New plug-in hybrid vehicles represent 7.8% of the car fleet. The backlog with 100% electric vehicles has continued to grow in recent months. Especially since the vast majority of sales of new plug-in hybrid vehicles were made to companies (75% of registrations since the beginning of the year). The fact that public authorities are less and less supportive of these vehicles also discourages customers from opting for this engine. And this, despite a growing supply from manufacturers.

Last interesting fact, electrified vehicles have already largely overtaken diesel vehicles in the French car market. New electrified cars account for 20.1% of the market share, against 16.7% for diesel.

Prices are still too high...If electric vehicles continue to gain market share in France, the price of the latter is still too high. Regarding electric city cars, the price is sometimes twice as high as the thermal version. This is, for example, the case of the Peugeot e-208 displayed at a price of €33,000 while the thermal version starts at €16,400. Electric vehicle prices remain, in general, very high and therefore unaffordable for most motorists, despite the aid.

Same note for plug-in hybrid vehicles. While mixed consumption may seem very attractive, once the battery is discharged, these vehicles consume a lot, sometimes more than conventional thermal vehicles. With a much larger fuel budget it provided that.

It remains to be seen how the prices of electrified cars will evolve in the coming months. Especially since the energy crisis that France and Europe are going through could reorganize registration cards.

Mundoquatrorodas