Automobile. New car sales continue to fall.

With one fewer working day in July, the French new car market lost another 8% in July, posting a cumulative loss of 8% over the first seven months of the year.

The market decline is widespread. As has been the case since the beginning of the year, the decline is affecting both individual and fleet channels.

Only purchases from short-term rental companies and temporary transits are increasing.

Individuals and professionals, same fight

AAA Data, the augmented data expert, recorded 116,376 new passenger car (NPC) registrations last month. Sales to individuals fell by 10%.

So much so that one wonders who is still buying new cars in France. Not businesses, judging by fleet figures, which show a similar overall decline (-10%), despite very strong growth in electric models (+70%).

Soon a rebound in electric?

“The automotive market is not recovering and is undoubtedly taking a wait-and-see approach due to changes in government support measures for electric vehicles. The new, slightly more advantageous ecological bonus formula has not yet had a significant impact given the delays between orders and deliveries,” explains Marie-Laure Nivot, Head of Automotive Market Analysis at AAA Data.

“Combined with the electric leasing expected at the start of the school year, it could finally make electric cars attractive again for individuals, but it will not necessarily be enough to end this long downward trend that began in spring 2024.”

Electric vehicles rebound thanks to fleets

In this gloomy picture, electric cars are doing well with sales up 15%.

This improvement is mainly due to fleets. In this sector, electric vehicle registrations have jumped by 70%, with a share rising to 22%, while private individuals are still turning away from this type of engine (-15%).

It should also be noted that July 2024 was a weak month for electric vehicles, with their share falling to 14%. It reached 17% last month, down from 18% since the beginning of the year.

The hybrid still the star

As always, hybrids are the winners this month. Hybrid cars remain by far the most popular, with a 53% share, up 7%.

Among the biggest sellers of hybrid vehicles: Toyota. Hybrids account for 84% of the Japanese manufacturer's registrations.

Peugeot achieves 67% of its registrations in hybrid (+26% in July), BMW 60% (+34%), Ford 76% (+11%), MG 87%.

This month's winners

In this gloomy context, some brands remain strong, such as BMW (+7%), Skoda (+25%), Ford (+25%), MG (+98%), Mini (+70%), Cupra (+55%).

Two electrified D-segment models appeared on the market in July: the Lynk & CO 08, an all-new plug-in hybrid SUV, and the Mazda 6e, the fourth generation of the large Japanese sedan, sold exclusively as an electric model.