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French New-Car Market Shrinks 12% in May, Extends Five-Month Slide

Reduced state incentives have eroded electric vehicle sales, prompting a shift toward hybrids.

Overview

  • New registrations fell 12.3% in May to 123,919 vehicles, marking the fifth straight month of decline and an 8% drop year-to-date.
  • Electric vehicle registrations stagnated at roughly 18% of sales in the first five months, down about 7% from 2024, with Tesla plunging 67% in May.
  • Hybrid models expanded their market share from 30% in 2024 to 45% in 2025 as consumers seek less costly alternatives.
  • Used car sales inched up 0.3% in May but failed to offset the slump in new-car demand.
  • Industry leaders attribute the downturn to economic uncertainty, significant cuts in government EV incentives and low household confidence following US trade tensions.