New car sales in France fall 5% in 2025

Thursday 01 January 2026 - 12:55

By: Sahili Aya

New car sales in France continued to decline in 2025, with 1,632,154 vehicles registered, marking a 5.02% drop compared to the previous year. The decrease notably affected Tesla, whose sales fell by 37.5%.

According to La Plateforme Automobile (PFA), which represents the French automotive sector, the market has lost about 580,000 vehicles compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a decline of over 25% in six years. PFA described this trend as a “real volume crisis” affecting both the French and European automotive industries.

Despite a slight average price reduction of 1.4%, many buyers still find vehicles expensive. This has prompted more consumers to turn to long-term leasing options. SUVs continue to dominate the market, holding more than 50% of sales. Electric vehicle sales grew by 12%, reaching 20% market share, with over 300,000 units sold, supported by government incentives and fleet electrification policies.

In terms of manufacturers, Stellantis (Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Jeep) saw a 7% decline, despite strong performance by Alfa Romeo. Renault increased slightly (+1.2%), boosted by Alpine models. Volkswagen group recorded a 2.1% drop, while Tesla’s French sales fell sharply from 40,709 units in 2024 to just over 25,400 in 2025.