France Auto Sales From January to August Down 7% Year-On-Year, BYD and MG Perform Brightly

According to the latest data from the French Automobile Association (PFA), the sales of new cars in France from January to August this year amounted to 1,046,432 units, a decrease of 7.1% year-on-year.

Among them, Chinese automakers BYD, MG Motor, and Skoda, a Czech subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, have stood out in the persistently sluggish French automotive market, becoming notable highlights in that market.

Image source: BYD

In the first eight months of this year, the market ranking of SAIC Motor's MG brand jumped from 22nd to 16th place, with sales increasing by 49% year-on-year, reaching 17,115 units. Previously, due to the EU's imposition of tariffs on Chinese-made pure electric vehicles, MG had adjusted its product lineup to focus primarily on hybrid models.

Despite facing the impact of the EU's increased tariffs on its pure electric models, BYD's sales of pure electric vehicles in France still grew by 147% year-on-year from January to August this year, reaching 5,121 units. Meanwhile, to cope with tariff pressures, BYD has also introduced plug-in hybrid models (PHEVs) such as the Seal U. In the first eight months of this year, BYD's total sales in France amounted to 7,783 units, with the Seal U, a mid-size SUV, accounting for 34% of that total.

Another outstanding car company is the Mini brand under the BMW Group, whose sales in France increased by 31% year-on-year during the same period, reaching 15,613 units.

Among the top ten car brands in the French market, Renault and Skoda are the only two companies that achieved sales growth during the same period. Skoda benefited from strong demand for the Elroq and Fabia models, with sales from January to August increasing by 18% year-on-year, reaching 31,383 units.

Notably, hybrid models are another highlight of the French car market: in the first eight months of this year, the market share of full hybrid models reached 23%, an increase of 4 percentage points compared to 2024. Toyota, Renault, and Hyundai are the leading brands in this segment, with sales of Renault's hybrid models accounting for 51% of its total sales. Additionally, SUVs continue to maintain a dominant position in the market, with their market share rising to 57%.

Overall, in the first eight months of this year, France has dropped from the third largest automotive market in Europe to the fourth, with Italy taking its place as the third largest market with a sales volume of 1,058,900 vehicles.

Some industry insiders believe that the core reasons for the sluggish French car market are twofold: first, weak economic growth, and second, a reduction in government support for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The "leasing plan" launched by the French government last year had effectively boosted consumer demand for BEVs in 2024, but the plan has been suspended due to cuts in the government budget.

Although the plan will be reinstated on September 30, the ongoing tax increase policy affecting the commercial vehicle market and various regulatory pressures are still suppressing market demand. According to data from the French Automobile Association, the registration of new light commercial vehicles in France (with a total weight of less than 5.1 tons) from January to August this year was 235,843 units, a decrease of 9.93% compared to the same period last year.