The market for licence-free cars - France (2024)

1.2 Global and European markets

Worldwide market

There are no worldwide data specifically for the "no-license" market, which is a type of vehicle that exists only in Europe. There are, however, data for the "mini-car" market, which encompasses Europe's licence-free cars, but especially ultra-compact car models such as the Fiat *** and Abarth. The minicar market was ...

1.3 Strong growth in the French market

Since recently, the French market for licence-free cars has been growing strongly. Indeed, the number of carts sold between **** and **** has almost doubled, rising from **,*** to **,***[***], with **,*** vehicles sold in * years .

There are two main reasons for this leap in sales volume:

the dazzling success of the Citroën Ami, which ...

1.4 Foreign trade in cars

The customs product nomenclature does not allow us to analyze foreign trade in license-free cars alone. It does, however, allow us to study the trade balance for code ****: "Passenger cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of less than ** persons", providing a clearer picture of trade in this ...

2.1 The French car fleet

The proportion of motorized households in France has increased slightly over the last decade. Indeed, while the proportion of households owning at least one vehicle in **** was **.*%, this proportion will reach **.*% in ****, one of the highest rates ever recorded. According to the ONISR, the * main reasons given by non-motorized households for ...

2.2 Unlicensed car registrations

After a drop in the number of new vehicles sold between **** and **** (***), the number of small car registrations remained stable between **** and ****. However, since ****, the market has seen strong growth. Indeed, new small car registrations rose by **% in **** compared to ****. In ****, growth accelerated, with new PSV registrations up **% on ****, despite a ...

2.3 Obtaining and losing a license: two major determinants of demand

Obtaining a license

Obtaining a license is an important determinant of demand, insofar as the lower the number of licenses issued, the greater the potential customer base for licence-free cars.

The graph below shows the evolution of the number of permits issued by category between **** and ****:

The number of B permits ...

2.4 Young people, the new target group for manufacturers of licence-free cars

Since the law lowered the age limit for driving without a license (***), the market for cars without a license has seen its audience get younger[***].

As proof, according to Marie-Laure Nivot, Market Intelligence Manager at AAA Data, registrations for small cars among teenagers (***) are increasing by *% per year. According to this ...

2.5 Electricity and car-sharing, the future of PSV demand?

The electric motorization of vehicles is a fundamental trend that is set to profoundly change the landscape of the automotive industry, both globally and nationally, over the next decade. However, if we look at consumers' intentions, only around a third intend to buy an electric vehicle in the next few years ...

3.1 Sector value chain

Below is a simplified value chain for the licence-free car market:

Source: ****

Manufacturers (***) are the players in the first and fourth stages of the above value chain. It is they who design the vehicles in the design office, and assemble the parts. However, the manufacture of components and parts is for ...

3.2 The main manufacturers on the market are French

The three manufacturers selling the most small cars in France are French. In fact, in ****, Aixam (***) will dominate the market. note that Ligier sales also include those of the Microcar brand, which Ligier acquired in ****. Citroën completes the podium with **** models sold. It's interesting to note that while Citroën ...

3.3 Production and distribution

Two types of player can be distinguished in the licence-free car market:

Specialized players (***), producing only licence-free cars and favoring"made in France" production. Major generalist automotive groups (***), who have diversified their offer to reach new customers. The latter prefer to outsource production. Renault withdrew from the market after production of ...

4.1 Offer typology

The table below shows a comparison of several models distributed by different manufacturers. We can see that there are often two types of offer: buying the vehicle or leasing it. Unsurprisingly, electric versions are also more expensive.

We can also point to the move upmarket and diversification of the range, with ...

4.2 Supply trends: Rising prices, upscaling, vehicle electrification and car-sharing

Rising prices and a move upmarket

The price of licence-free cars is tending to rise. Indeed, some models are more expensive (***)[***] Secondly, the licence-free car market, like that of the automotive industry as a whole, is also affected by rising raw material prices and the semiconductor crisis, which is leading to ...

5. Regulations

The French market for licence-free cars is mainly governed by European Directive ***/****. The main legislation concerning the vehicle itself is listed below (***):

Unladen weight limited to *** kg Diesel or electric engine limited to * kW Speed must be less than ** km/h Engine capacity must be less than ** cm³. Number of seats ...

6. Segmentation

• Bellier Automobiles
• Chatenet
• Aixam
• Ligier Groupe
• Casalini
• Jiayuan
• Microlino
• Kate.tech-Nosmoke
• Voltandgo