The primary quarter of 2026 noticed plugin EVs take 33.0% share in France, up from 22.9% in Q1 2025. BEV share grew strongly yr on yr (YoY), whereas PHEV share was flat. General Q1 auto quantity was 339,478 items, down some 2.5% YoY. The Tesla Mannequin Y was the best-selling BEV in Q1.
2026 Q1 auto gross sales noticed mixed plugin EVs take 33.0% share in France, with full electrics (BEVs) at 28.1% and plugin hybrids (PHEVs) at 4.9%. These figures examine YoY towards 22.9% mixed, 18.2% BEVs and 4.8% PHEVs.
In quantity phrases, BEVs have been up 50% YoY to 112,086 items, while PHEVs have been flat, at 19,584 items. Gentle hybrids and a few HEVs (now mixed at 47% share) proceed to switch combustion-only powertrains. Diesel-only at the moment are all the way down to 2.5% and petrol-only all the way down to 14.6%. Within the longue durée of the EV transition, gentle hybrids and HEVs are solely a cease hole on the way in which to nearly completely BEVs.
Finest-Promoting BEV Fashions
The very best-selling BEV in Q1 2026 was the Tesla Mannequin Y, with 10,670 items registered, forward of its earlier finest Q1, again in 2023 (9,363 items).
The Renault 5, final yr’s general chief, got here a detailed second in Q1, with 10,084 items (up some 10% YoY). One other Renault, the Scenic, got here third with 6,896 items.
As ordinary, we sadly don’t have sufficient wonderful grained mannequin gross sales knowledge from the French market to detect new mannequin debuts. We will observe that probably the most inexpensive BEVs, such because the Dacia Spring (18th), the brand new Renault Twingo (simply outdoors the highest 20), and the Leapmotor T03 (near prime 20), are all promoting pretty effectively.
Outlook
2026 is off to an honest begin for BEVs, with 50% progress in gross sales YoY. Let’s see if this may be sustained.
The French macroeconomy has cooled over the previous quarter, from YoY GDP progress of 1.1% in 2025 This autumn, all the way down to 0.9% in 2026 Q1. Headline inflation doubled from the top of This autumn (0.8%) to the top of Q1 (1.7%). Rates of interest on the finish of Q1 have been 2.25%, flat since June 2025. Manufacturing PMI has hovered round 50 factors on the finish of Q1, barely down from 50.7 factors on the finish of This autumn.
What prospects does 2026 have for the EV transition in France? Please share your feedback and ideas within the dialogue under.
