registrations slow down in March

Registrations in March 2024 are down compared to March 2023, but this decrease is minimal. The French automobile market recorded 180,024 registrations in March 2024 compared to 182,712 in March 2023.

However, it is worth pointing out that March 2024 had two fewer working days than 2023. Although this may seem insignificant, adjusting for the number of working days, March 2024 sees an increase of 8%. This is a satisfactory result, especially since March 2024 benefited from a greater ecological bonus on electric vehicles. In fact, aid for the purchase of an electric vehicle was reduced to 4,000 euros last February.

Hybrid vehicles record an increase

Hybrid cars are very popular with buyers, with a 23% increase in registrations, now representing 37% of the French new vehicle market.

Non-plug-in hybrids saw their registrations increase by 31%, mild hybrids by 27% and plug-in hybrids by 4%. These increases are partly motivated by the severe ecological penalty, encouraging manufacturers to offer more hybrid engines to avoid buyers paying heavy penalties.

In the hybrid vehicle market, Renault dominates the competition with its simple (non-rechargeable) hybrids. The Renault Clio is the best-selling hybrid car in France in March 2024, with 3,509 electrified units sold. It is closely followed by its brother, the Captur, also equipped with the same engine. On the third step of the podium for best hybrid sales, we find the Renault Austral.

Electric cars benefit from social leasing

Social leasing ended in mid-February, but its impact is still being felt on the market. With 50,000 vehicles ordered in just six weeks, deliveries must be spread over several months, which explains the notable performance of electric cars in March.

Electric cars thus represent 19% of new car registrations in France in March, a positive result although it does not equal the record of December 2023 with 21% market share for electric cars.

Thermal cars in difficulty

Petrol cars still represent 33% of sales in March 2024, but they see their sales decline by 18% compared to March 2023. This drop is mainly explained by the demanding scale of the ecological penalty, affecting most thermal vehicles. Manufacturers are now favoring less polluting hybrid engines.

What about the second-hand market?

The second-hand market is down 3%. This decrease is also attributable to the absence of two working days in March. 467,633 used vehicles were sold in March 2024, and it is the so-called clean vehicles that are the most successful. Crit’Air 0, electric vehicles, saw second-hand demand increase by 49%, while Crit’Air 1 recorded an increase of 10%.

On the other hand, demand for the Crit’Air 2-3-4 and 5 is decreasing. Despite this, vehicles over 10 years old still represent 47% of the used vehicle market.