Automobile. The used vehicle market is recording a slight increase.

In April, the French used vehicle market grew by +3.1% with 482,028 registrations, compared to the same month last year with the same number of working days. A used market that is holding up much better than the new market, which continues to fall with a drop of -5.6% and 138,697 registrations (i.e. -26.3% compared to April 2019).

These figures could be described as good for the used car market, but they hide another truth. Compared to the pre-Covid period, this represents a decrease of -5.6% (for the same number of working days). The French car market, whether new or used, has not yet recovered from Covid. In the meantime, 3.48 used vehicles are still sold for every new one in France.

French brands still in the lead

Regarding their preferences, French motorists who buy used vehicles remain loyal to French brands. They represent 47% of the market share (+0.1% in volume and -2.9% in market share). However, beware, this market share is declining, mainly due to the decline of the Stellantis group's brands, whose recurring reliability problems are taking a heavy toll. On the other hand, Asian brands are growing very quickly but in a still very low volume (0.16% market share). Korean manufacturers recorded an increase in volume of +11.2% while Japanese brands increased by +10.7% and Chinese brands by +131.8%.

Diesel continues to represent 45% of used car sales, mainly thanks to a plethora of offers. But beware, its market share continues to fall inexorably, month after month with a further decline of -6.2%. Gasoline represents 39% of sales, with this too a drop of -4.8% in market share. Electrified engines (hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric) show an overall increase of +48.6% in volume, reaching 15.3% market share compared to 10.6% in April 2024. All-electric vehicles are experiencing the strongest growth with a jump of +62% market share.