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In a significant shift towards greener transportation, France is witnessing a decline in the market share of traditional internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, according to recent data. This trend is primarily attributed to a decrease in sales of petrol and diesel vehicles, coupled with a rising adoption of hybrid vehicles.
In April 2025, hybrid vehicles accounted for an impressive 45.5% of the total market, marking a 14.3 percentage point increase compared to the same month the previous year. This surge in hybrid registrations, totalling 63,060 deliveries, represents a 37.7% increase compared to April 2024.
While plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) experienced a 41% year-on-year decline in April, with 9,593 units registered, the overall technology showed a 44.9% year-on-year growth, reaching 247,327 registrations across the first four months of 2025.
In contrast, deliveries of diesel-powered cars fell by 41.1% in April, with 6,701 units, and petrol models decreased by 38.8%, with 28,932 registrations. These declines directly contribute to the decreasing market share of traditional ICE vehicles.
The electrified market, which includes both Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and PHEVs, showed a 20.3% year-on-year growth in April, with 98,195 deliveries. However, when comparing the first four months of the year, the overall EV market suffered a 16.4% delivery decline, posting 129,246 units.
Despite a slight dip in BEV sales by 2.55% and PHEV sales by 10.16% in 2025, the combined effect of increasing hybrids, plus steady sales of electrified vehicles overall, is driving a shift away from ICE dominance.
Europe-wide trends indicate that EV subsidies and environmental policies shape consumer choices. France has likely been influenced by regulatory measures promoting low-emission vehicles. Economic factors and the search for cleaner mobility options have contributed to consumers moving away from petrol and diesel cars.
Total new passenger car registrations in France dropped by 12% in May 2025 compared to May 2024, indicating a market contraction which can accelerate shifts in vehicle type preferences. If petrol models were excluded from the new-car market in France for the year to date, the market would have seen a 35.2% decrease. Similarly, excluding petrol and diesel models from the total new-car registrations in France for the year to date would result in a 6.6% improvement.
In conclusion, the decrease in ICE vehicle market share in France in 2025 is due to a significant decline in traditional petrol and diesel car sales combined with a rising surge in hybrid vehicle uptake. Although pure electric vehicle sales have seen a slight dip, hybrids are playing a major role in displacing ICE vehicles and driving fleet decarbonization.
- The finance sector is witnessing a shift in investment patterns towards the automotive industry, as the focus on car-maintenance and production is leaning towards hybrid and electric vehicles, driven by the lifestyle preference for cleaner transportation options.
- The surge in hybrid vehicle sales in France, accounting for nearly half of the total market in April 2025, is reflecting positively on the transportation industry, signifying a movement away from traditional internal-combustion engine vehicles.
- Amidst this change, the sports car segment of the automotive industry might face challenges due to the growing preference for fuel-efficient vehicles, forcing them to adapt their designs and technologies to cater to this new trend in the finance market.
- As France moves towards a future with fewer traditional cars on the road, industries related to sports, finance, transportation, and even lifestyle are expected to experience significant transformations to accommodate the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
