Aurélien Fleurot, edited by Manon Fossat 10:01 am, October 25, 2021

Emmanuel Macron said, in his France 2030 plan, that he wanted the country to produce two million electric and hybrid vehicles within ten years.

Recalling that "the last 30 years have been cruel for the French automobile industry", the Head of State deemed this objective "attainable" if there is "a real cooperative strategy, in particular from our large manufacturers".

The plan of the Head of State, France 2030, focuses on the development of electric vehicles.

He foresees that France will produce two million within ten years.

But to achieve this, beyond state aid, a European framework will be needed.

Because building an electric car is always more expensive than a thermal car.

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The main explanation comes from the cost of the battery.

This is obvious when we look at the study carried out by the firm AlixPartners.

The cost comes to 8,000 euros on average per car, while for a heat engine with the transmission and fuel supply elements, this figure drops to 5,000 euros.

We must also add everything that accompanies the electric motor, namely almost 3,000 euros additional.

In total, the bill therefore climbs to 15,000 euros on average for thermal, and 24,000 euros for 100% electric.

For customers, the difference is partly offset by purchase bonuses of 6,000 euros, but for manufacturers, the challenge is to very quickly lower the price of the battery pack.

More competitive countries

In 2004, France produced 3.6 million cars.

A figure divided by two in 2013, before an increase to 2.3 million in 2018. A yoyo effect due to the choices of manufacturers Renault and PSA, which keep in France the production of SUVs, utility vehicles, but very rarely small cars like the 208 or the Clio, which are their best sellers.

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The reason is unsurprisingly competitiveness, linked to the cost of labor and taxation.

For them, going to Spain or Slovenia is necessarily more profitable.

So, in order not to end up in the same situation with 100% electric, France will push a proposal at European level: the idea of ​​a free zone which would make it possible to lower costs where clean vehicles are produced.