Slow start to 2026 for French new-car market

04 February 2026

After a difficult 2025, the French new-car market will be looking to bounce back in 2026. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) enjoyed success, but were there any other green shoots of recovery in January’s registrations? James Roberts, Autovista24 web editor, assesses the latest data.

The new-car market in France underwent a slow start to 2026. In January, a total of 106,805 new vehicles were registered, according to Autovista24 analysis of PFA and AAA data. This marked a year-on-year decline of 6.9%.

The French new-car market recorded its worst January in 15 years, according to PFA. However, this excludes January 2022 during the semiconductor shortage crisis. Compared with 12 months ago, the drop in volumes amounted to 7,867 vehicles.

Understanding BEV gains in France

In 2025, any gains for BEV adoption were weighed down by wider declines in new-car volumes. This was exacerbated by a terminal fall in registrations of internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, and wider market inertia.

Despite this, BEV uptake gathered significant late-year momentum in France, and this seems to have continued into 2026. BEVs emerged as the only powertrain to record growth in January 2026.

In total, 30,308 BEVs join France’s car parc, according to Autovista24 analysis of PFA and AAA data. This ensured a 28.4% market share, 11 percentage points (pp) up on January 2025. However, behind these apparently positive figures lies a complex picture.

BEV demand propped up by incentives?

Since late September 2025, electric vehicle (EV) adoption in France has been assisted by social leasing. This scheme was rolled out to help lower-income households access new BEVs at reduced monthly costs.

Aligned with this, commercial fleets have helped lift BEV registrations in recent months. These buyers are supported with a combination of tax exemption, infrastructure support and regulatory incentives. This makes BEVs an attractive option for fleets.

Despite these policy-led catalysts, which are undoubtedly firing BEV numbers, natural demand is harder to generate. Marie-Laure Nivot, analysis for AAA Data, underlined that: ’The peak in electric car sales recorded in January demonstrates the influence of purchase incentives and obscures the market picture.’

Emanuele Cappellano, head of Stellantis Europe, recently provided a stark assessment of the wider European BEV market and the appeal of buying an all-electric vehicle.

‘In Europe, profit margins are shrinking and are on the verge of becoming negative. This is a major concern for us today. There is no natural demand for electric vehicles,’ he said, according to Car Dealer. ‘Demand only arises when there are subsidies in various countries or when car manufacturers reduce prices by burning cash,’ he added.

Hybrids start where they left off

In 2025, hybrids, made up of full and mild hybrid models, took a considerable percentage of new-car markets across the EU. France was no exception, underlining a consumer powertrain preference.

This trend continued in January, as 51,171 full and mild hybrids took to French roads. This marked a marginal 0.5% year-on-year drop in volumes. However, the powertrain accounted for 47.9% of the overall market.

Hybrids continued to provide the bulk of electrified registrations in France. Together with PHEVs and BEVs, electrified models secured 80.8% of the market, a new high watermark. This momentum could be difficult to sustain should BEV demand fall and hybrid volumes stagnate or drop off.

While BEVs and hybrids performed relatively well, PHEVs started 2026 in a year-on-year deficit. 4,821 PHEVs left French forecourts, albeit with a small fall of 0.6%, equating to 31 units. In terms of market share, PHEVs captured 4.5%, up 0.3pp on January 2025.

Despite this, the bumper BEV return helped facilitate 32.9% market share for plug-in vehicles, an 11.3pp jump. With 35,129 new BEVs and PHEVs rolling out of dealerships in January, this helped continue a trend established in late 2025. 

Petrol and diesel continue to fall

The arrival of a new year continued an old story for ICE registrations in France. In parallel with most of Europe’s new-car markets, both petrol and diesel sales continued to diminish in January.

In total, 15,326 new petrol vehicles were sold in France during the month. This ensured a dramatic year-on-year plummet of 14,648 units, down 48.9%. Despite the decline, the fuel type commanded a 14.3% market share, down 11.8pp. This made petrol the third most popular powertrain choice in France.

Diesel declines have become part of the French new-car market narrative. Just 2,521 units reached customers in January. As a result, it accounted for 2.4% of the overall market, just 0.1pp above the ‘other’ category. This includes hydrogen fuel-cells, super ethanol, natural gas, and liquified petroleum gas vehicles. However, when it comes to the used-car market in France, demand for diesel vehicles continues.

Combined ICE figures were eclipsed by both plug-in and electrified registrations in January. The combination of new petrol and diesel units hit a low of 17,847, underpinning a 48.9% year-on-year slump. As a result, the ICE market share equated to just 16.7%, 13.8pp down on January 2025.