The electric car market continues its meteoric rise in France. In this sixth month of the year, the sales figures are much higher than those of their thermal rivals. On the podium, we find the Fiat 500 in first place, followed by the Peugeot e-208 and the Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric. Meanwhile, thermal cars plunge into the abyss.
We never stop seeing the growing popularity of electric cars. The multiple government measures, coupled with the growing interest of manufacturers and the development of charging stations on French territory, make the newcomer to our roads a candidate of choice when buying a new vehicle. For several months, its market share has been steadily increasing, to the detriment, of course, of its thermal cousin.
Thus, in this month of May 2022, it is the Fiat 500 which has risen to the top of sales of electric cars. A flamboyant success which can be explained in particular by its price, which is attractive to say the least, because the small city car is available at only €299 per month without obligation, which allowed it to sell 2129 copies. In second place, we find the Peugeot e-208 followed by the Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric, which respectively account for 1,668 and 1,500 registrations.
Electric cars take over vehicles
Note that this ranking has changed since the beginning of the year. Indeed, 2022 first saw the dominance of the Dacia Sping over all cars sold in France, which held first place for several months. It was then followed by the Dacia Spring which has since overtaken it, then by the Peugeot 208, the Tesla Model 3, the Renault Zoé, the Renault Twingo, the Peugeot e-2008, the Hyundai Kona, the Mini Cooper SE and finally the Kia e-Niro.
Today, the Peugeot 208 and the Renault Clio continue to appeal to French motorists. But the same cannot really be said for the rest of the thermal market. Compared to the previous year, the sector as a whole shows a drop of 10.09% in sales, and 35% compared to 2019. In May, only 126,810 vehicles were registered.
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Another surprising data at first glance, the Tesla Model 3 is completely absent from this ranking. While it has long been at the top of sales in Europe, it does not even reach the top 10 today in France. In all, only 111 cars were sold in France in May. In April, there were only 10. The fault is a rather inconsistent delivery rate, but above all a shortage of components which continues to wreak havoc.
A complicated situation for the entire market
According to AAA Data, more than 120,000 vehicles are currently waiting to be delivered to their owners worldwide. A figure that has been steadily increasing since last year, as the institute points out: “The annual trend is now plunging towards a new market at 1,450,000 units”. The situation is so dramatic that it even resembles the sales figures that could be observed in the 1960s, again according to AAA Data.
Despite everything, electric cars are obviously doing very well. Especially since the context is clearly advantageous for the latter. In France, the government is now doing everything to encourage the population to go electric, going so far as to offer to rent a vehicle for only €100/month. Europe is following suit, by banning the sale of thermal cars by 2035.
In fact, the sale of electric cars increased by 31.84% last month. Their market share, meanwhile, rose to 12% from 7.1% last year at the same time.
Source: AAA Data