Painful petrol performance in France amid hybrid growth

02 April 2025

Last month, full hybrids (HEVs) led the new-car market in France for the first time, as petrol registrations collapsed. But is this the start of a new electrified age in the country? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry explores the latest figures.

The French new-car market’s struggles continued in March, as petrol powertrains lost their leading position in the market for the first time.

According to figures from French automotive authority PFA, registrations were down 14.5% in the month, with 153,844 units delivered, according to Autovista24 calculations. This is a drop of 26,180 units compared to the same period in 2024.

The early Easter period in March last year meant that most European markets posted declines. These markets bounced back in April. Compared to the last uninterrupted March in 2023, the market was down 15.8%.

This means that April may also see a registrations decline. It would be pitted against a stronger month from 2024, while also seeing disruption from this year’s Easter break.

Only HEVs and mild hybrids (MHEVs) posted improvements last month. Every other powertrain experienced a double-digit decline, highlighting the struggle the French new-car market is currently facing.

In the first quarter of the year, registrations are down 7.8% in the country. The 410,085 units delivered to customers were 34,819 units down against the first three months of 2024.

Changing circumstances in France

There were several circumstances that could have led to the steep decline. Many registrations were pulled forwards into February, due to changes in the electric vehicle (EV) subsidy amounts offered by the government. There was also a change in the malus tax threshold, which may have dissuaded buyers.

From the start of last month, the CO₂ emission threshold for triggering a €50 malus tax tightened to 113g/km. A further €25 is added for each 1g/km up to €150 or 117g/km. A further €20 for each gramme per kilometre is added up to 124g/km. After this, the increments increase to a maximum €70,000 penalty for vehicles with CO₂ emissions of more than 192g/km.

This may explain a dramatic collapse in the internal-combustion engine (ICE) market during March. This comes alongside changing carmaker attitudes, with a rise in MHEV powertrains replacing traditional engines. It remains to be seen whether the impact will level out during the rest of the year.

‘This drop in the new car market in March was largely predictable after the anticipated registrations in February linked to the reduction in the bonus and the increase in the penalty. We should see less disrupted monthly trends starting next month,’ explained Marie-Laure Nivot, head of automotive market analysis at AAA Data.

‘In the meantime, the 8% decline in the first quarter shows how depressed the market remains, despite the accelerating electrification of fleets.’

Alongside subsidy and malus changes, the market also had to compete against a period when social leasing was in operation. During this time, private buyers could rent an EV for €100 a month or less.

A total of 50,000 households benefitted from the offer, which expired within less than two months. These vehicles were delivered throughout February and March, increasing registration figures in those periods.

Petrol dominance ends

Changes in the taxation on ICE models with higher emissions may have been instrumental in the collapse of the market in France during March.

Petrol registrations fell by 44.2% last month, according to Autovista24 calculations. This meant the 32,867 deliveries in the month was down by 25,995 units year on year. Its market share of 21.4% was down by 11.3 percentage points (pp) against March 2023.

The collapse meant that for the first time, the powertrain fell behind both HEV and MHEV in terms of volume and market share. This is particularly significant as, unlike most EU markets, France splits out its hybrid category into these two technologies. While combined hybrid registrations have led the total EU market for months, in France, petrol has remained on top thanks to this split.

HEVs and MHEVs have been growing closer to petrol volumes over the last 12 months. Whether March’s results mean a permanent shift in the powertrain dynamics of the market remains to be seen. But, petrol is no longer the dominant force it used to be.

Across the first quarter of 2025, petrol registrations are down by 34.1%, with 97,951 units. This is a shortfall of 50,734 units year on year. The fuel-type is still the most registered across the three-month period, but only just. Its market share of 23.9% is down from the 33.4% recorded in the same period last year.

ICE struggles in France

Diesel also struggled in March. Its 6,463-unit total was 52.1% down year on year, according to Autovista24 calculations. It was the worst-performing of all major powertrain types in terms of volume and percentage decline.

The technology accounted for just 4.2% of total registrations in the month, a drop of 3.3pp compared to the same period last year.

In the year to date, diesel registrations are down 45.6% with 18,126 registrations. Its hold of 4.4% has dropped from the 7.5% of total registrations in the first three months of last year.

Combining petrol and diesel, ICE registrations fell 45.6% in March, with 33,029 fewer deliveries. Its share of 25.6% means it is at risk of being overtaken by the EV group of powertrains in monthly figures.

Across the first three months of the year, ICE registrations have fallen 36.2%, equating to a loss of 65,946 units. This has left the technology with a 28.3% share, a drop from its 40.9% market hold secured at the same point in 2024.

Hybrids dominate new-car market

As ICE registrations fell, the hybrid market soared. HEVs and MHEVs were the only powertrains in France to record growth in March.

The best performing, in terms of year on year improvement, was MHEVs. Registrations increased by 57.6%, according to Autovista24 calculations. This mean 33,392 new models took to the country’s roads, accounting for 21.7% of total deliveries. This was an increase of 9.9pp compared to the same point last year.

Meanwhile, HEVs achieved a 29.8% registration rise, with 37,284 models delivered. The performance meant the powertrain led the market in terms of share, with 24.2% of total units in the month. Last year, it represented 16% of the overall new-car market, highlighting the technology’s growth in the 12-month period.

In the first quarter, MHEV registrations have improved by 73.9%, equating to 89,312 deliveries. This is a rise of 37,966 units over the same period of last year.

The technology has benefitted from carmakers adding more MHEV options to their ranges at the expense of pure petrol and diesel models. The powertrain has a 21.7% hold on the market, up 9.9pp.

HEVs saw a rise of 29% in the first three months of the year, with 94,955 units. Their market share of 23.2% is just 0.7pp behind petrol over the first quarter, meaning it will likely overtake the fuel-type in the coming months if it continues to perform strongly. This share is a rise from its 16.5% market hold recorded in the same period last year.

France’s EV struggle

Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations fell for the eighth month in succession as the technology continues to struggle in the French market. Figures were down 14.7%  with 29,261 deliveries, according to Autovista24 calculations. This led to a slight drop in market share, of just 0.1pp, to 19%. The all-electric powertrain benefitted from poor results elsewhere to record this stability.

Incentive changes have not helped uptake, and across the first three months of the year, BEV registrations have dropped 7.1% to 74,519 units. With declines in the ICE market, the all-electric share has grown 0.2pp to 18.2%.

While BEVs have struggled, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations have slumped. March saw figures down by 49.1%, to 8,289 units. This is a deficit of 5,061 units, according to Autovista24 calculations. The result left the technology with a market share of 5.4%, down 3.7pp year on year.

PHEVs are the worst-performing powertrain in terms of declines across the first quarter of the year. Registrations are down 49.2%, with 19,592 models taking to French roads. This is a drop of 18,983 units. Market share has fallen by 3.9pp, sitting at 4.8% between January and March.

Electric markets fluctuate

Combining BEV and PHEV results, the EV market fell 25.8% in March, with 13,066 fewer models delivered. The group took a market share of 24.4%, just 1.2pp behind ICE. However, this result was down 3.7pp year on year. Last year’s share of 28.1% would have comfortably beaten the ICE share from March 2025.

Across the first three months of the year, EV volumes have dropped 20.8% from 2024, equating to a loss of 24,676 units. The group accounted for 22.9% of overall figures, down from its 26.7% share recorded at the same point last year.

Adding HEVs into the mix, the electrified market dominated the new-car market in France last month. However, the EV decline pulled the grouping into a loss of 5.7% year on year. Thanks to the HEV result, its market share was up by 4.5pp to  48.6%.

In the first quarter, the situation is the same. EVs pulled the electrified segment into a 1.7% loss of registrations. Yet the technology still dominated the market with a 46.1% share, up 2.9pp compared to the same period last year.