Plugin electric vehicles accounted for a notable 29.3% of the overall automotive industry in France in September 2023. According to CleanTechnica, it represents a year-on-year gain of 24.2%.
Here is the market share breakdown per powertrain in September:
| EV Type | Share |
| Battery Electric (BEV) | 19.3% |
| Hybrid/Mild | 24.6% |
| Plugin Hybrid (PHEV) | 10.0% |
Meanwhile, below are the market shares of non-electric vehicles, including petrol, diesel, and other fuels, in the same period:
| Powertrain | Share |
| Petrol | 33.9% |
| Diesel | 8.5% |
| Other Fuels | 3.7% |
Tesla Model Y dominates
The report indicated that the YTD combined share of plugin EVs is already at 24.9%, with BEVs accounting for 15.9%. It indicates a YoY increase from just 20.6% combined share.
As expected, American electric vehicle giant Tesla is leading the local market with its innovative products, particularly the Model Y.
September 2023 rankings
Tesla’s all-electric crossover Model Y overthrew all its rivals with sales of 5,035 units in September alone. Various models from European brands completed the top 5:
| France BEVs | Sales |
| TESLA MODEL Y | 5,035 |
| PEUGEOT E-208 | 3,924 |
| DACIA SPRING | 2,514 |
| FIAT 500E | 2,296 |
| MG4 | 1,945 |
| RENAULT MEGANE | 1,372 |
| RENAULT TWINGO | 968 |
| KIA E-NIRO | 623 |
| CITROEN E-C4 | 596 |
| MG ZS EV | 585 |
| MINI COOPER SE | 572 |
| HYUNDAI KONA | 555 |
| RENAULT ZOE | 466 |
| SKODA ENYAQ | 454 |
| AUDI Q4 E-TRON | 423 |
| BMW IX1 | 405 |
| TESLA MODEL 3 | 385 |
| OPEL CORSA-E | 376 |
| VW ID.3 | 342 |
| VW ID.4 | 313 |
Sep 2023 trailing qtr rankings
Unsurprisingly, Tesla Model Y remains at the top spot with sales of 9,717 units in the trailing quarter. Likewise, European-made EVs followed the American model, including the Peugeot E-208, Dacia Spring, Fiat 500E and MG4.
The Tesla Model 3 landed the seventh spot with sales of 2,481 units. Refer to the table below:
| France BEVs | Sales |
| TESLA MODEL Y | 9,717 |
| PEUGEOT E-208 | 7,024 |
| DACIA SPRING | 6,768 |
| FIAT 500E | 5,156 |
| MG4 | 4,111 |
| RENAULT MEGANE | 3,368 |
| TESLA MODEL 3 | 2,481 |
| RENAULT TWINGO | 1,907 |
| MINI COOPER SE | 1,696 |
| KIA E-NIRO | 1,407 |
| SKODA ENYAQ | 1,242 |
| HYUNDAI KONA | 1,211 |
| CITROEN E-C4 | 1,063 |
| MG ZS EV | 1,025 |
| VW ID.3 | 942 |
| VW ID.4 | 933 |
| BMW IX1 | 890 |
| RENAULT ZOE | 872 |
| AUDI Q4 E-TRON | 800 |
| OPEL CORSA-E | 760 |
France’s new standards for its EV subsidies
The French Government is set to release updated rules for its eco-bonus aid, which currently offers €3,000 to €5,000 per vehicle.
The new rules will impose an “emissions score” to consider the vehicles’ emissions for their whole life cycle, including production.
It will apparently take effect on models ordered after mid-December. It will significantly push automakers to also more sustainable ways for EV development and production rather than just their lack of tailpipe-induced emissions.
See Also:
- France targets 1 million EV production in the country by 2027
- France offers new cash incentives for EV buyers
- Startup Verkor secures €2B for developing its first battery factory in France
- France is positive about securing significant investment from the Musk-led EV giant
- New EV Record High for France: Tesla Model Y as Bestseller
Tesla’s dominant position in the French EV industry is unsurprising, considering the automaker’s efforts in advancing its technologies and for competitive pricing. However, emerging new EVs from legacy automakers and startups will undoubtedly pose a huge challenge for the Musk-led company.
