The freeway market in France

The French market for new and used cars is worth around €140 billion. In 2023, the French car market will total 1.8 million vehicles, close to the 1975 figure. The used vehicle market has held up well, with sales declining by just 4.5% from 2019, then rising by 8.2% between 2020 and 2021. The electric vehicle segment saw a sharp rise, with sales in France increasing by around 160% from 2019 to 2020, and by 46% in 2021. The French market has managed to recover slightly in 2021, but is still struggling to get back to pre-crisis levels. The changing landscape of the French automotive market The French car market continues to be dominated by domestic manufacturers, with a notable increase in the adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles. Used car sales account for around 80% of total car sales. The European Parliament has voted to ban the sale of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles by 2035. Electric and hybrid vehicles are expected to conquer almost a third of the market by 2025. French c

This study analyses the French market for licence-free cars, these light quadricycles limited to 45 km/h and accessible from age 14 with an AM licence, both new and used. It compares the available measures, which cannot be added together, to trace strong growth: new registrations were multiplied by 2,4 between 2019 and 2024, before falling back in 2025 to 24 729 light quadricycles, while electric models reached 74,9 % of new sales. It describes family-driven and younger demand, led by parents of teenagers, the spread of the B licence at 17 and the decline of the moped. The offer is becoming more expensive and is increasingly sold on a monthly basis, through leases with purchase option (PCP-style leases) or long-term leases; the study compares list prices, gaps between electric and diesel and the monthly running cost. It shows how mainstream carmakers, with the Citroën Ami and the Fiat Topolino, took 61,5 % of the market in 2025 from the French specialists Aixam and Ligier, whose accoun

This study analyses the French used vehicle market, primarily the passenger car segment, based on data available as of October 15, 2026; light commercial vehicles are covered separately. It explains how previously weak new vehicle registrations are reducing the availability of recent models, ageing the supply and keeping internal combustion vehicles at the forefront. In 2025, 5,53 million used passenger cars changed ownership across France, accounting for 76,9 % of new and used car purchases. The average age of vehicles traded reached 11,1 years. The analysis links prices, income, mobility needs and financing. It examines the growth of lease-to-own financing, the trade-offs between purchase price, monthly payments, maintenance and fuel, and the significant share of private sales. It compares the business models of dealership groups, integrated specialists, brokerage agencies, classified advertising platforms, dealers and auction houses, including the cases of Autosphere, Aramisauto, AU