France's auto market has seen a significant shift towards electric vehicles, with plugin EVs taking 33.0% share in Q1 2026.
This represents a substantial increase from the 22.9% share in Q1 2025, highlighting the growing demand for environmentally friendly transportation options.
The growth of BEVs is driven by declining battery costs and increasing consumer awareness about the benefits of electric vehicles.
In contrast, PHEV sales remained flat year on year, while mild hybrids and some HEVs continue to replace combustion-only powertrains in the French market.
The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling BEV in Q1 2026, with 10,670 units sold, ahead of its previous best Q1 performance in 2023.
The Renault 5 came close second, with 10,084 units sold, up some 10% YoY, and the Scenic took third place with 6,896 units.
While the French macroeconomy has cooled over the past quarter, the EV transition is showing signs of resilience.
Manufacturing PMI has hovered around 50 points at the end of Q1, slightly down from 50.7 points at the end of Q4, but interest rates remain flat since June 2025.
Looking ahead to 2026, it remains to be seen whether this growth can be sustained in the face of economic uncertainty.
The EV transition is gaining momentum in France, but will it be sustained?
