Automotive: the French market at its lowest in 2021, electricity on the rise

Europe 1 with AFP 5:49 p.m., December 31, 2021, modified at 5:49 p.m., December 31, 2021

Struck by the health crisis, slowed down by the shortage of electronic chips, the French automobile market remained in 2021 at its historically low level of 2020, with a quarter of sales less compared to 2019. With 1.66 million units (+ 0.5% compared to 2020), the market finds itself blocked at a level close to its sales in 1975, according to provisional registration data from the firm NGC Data published on Friday by

.

A comparison with 2019 that "scares"

"The comparison with the 2019 financial year is scary," notes

, highlighting a 25% drop in sales: 2.2 million vehicles had been sold during the year preceding the Covid-19 crisis .

After a catastrophic year 2020, with closed concessions and a sluggish economy, the sector had thought to bounce back at the start of the year despite the various waves of Covid.

The semiconductor shortage has dampened that hope, depriving manufacturers of these essential microchips and forcing them to suspend their assembly lines.

If the order books have filled up, delivery times have lengthened and the registration figures are affected.

Peugeot dethrones Renault as number 1 in sales

Motorists have not all switched to cycling, however: the second-hand market seemed to be off to a good start in early December for a record year, with a gain of 9.2% over eleven months and already 5.5 million transactions.

Manufacturers are not equal in the face of the crisis: Peugeot for the first time becomes number 1 in sales ahead of Renault, with a market share of 17.2%, and despite a drop in sales of 6.1%.

The brand of the Stellantis group is driven by the success of its compact 208, number 1 in sales in 2021, and its 2008 and 3008 SUVs. Renault saw its sales fall by 14.7% over one year and its market share fall at 16.2%, nearly 140,000 vehicles less than in 2019.

Dacia, number 1 outside sales to professionals

Excluding sales to professionals, it is however the Renault group's economy brand, Dacia, which ranks number 1 in sales with its Sandero.

Ford, Nissan and Opel also lost market share this year.

In fifth position, Volkswagen recorded a slight rebound (+ 7.4%), driven by its compact Polo and its T-Roc SUV.

The big luxury brand of the German group, Audi, is also rebounding, and its new sports brand Cupra is close to 4,000 sales.

Above all, Hyundai-Kia, Toyota and Tesla have had an excellent year thanks to their electric and hybrid offerings.

A share of almost 10% for the electric, unprecedented

Electric vehicles reach an unprecedented 9.8% market share with nearly 162,000 vehicles sold (+ 45.6% over one year), the French market thus placing itself in the European average.

The Tesla Model 3 becomes number one in electric sales for the first time, ahead of the Renault Zoe.

Hybrids now represent more than 17% of sales, and plug-in hybrids more than 8%.

Together, these hybrid engines have overtaken Diesel (21.1%, -31% in volume over one year).

Gasoline-powered cars represent 40.2% of sales, with volume down 14.2%.

The beginning of the year 2022 may be further hampered by the shortage of chips, before a possible recovery at the end of the year.

As for Volkswagen, we expect "a 2022 market to grow slightly, despite a binding first half, and sales of electric vehicles will continue to grow strongly," Xavier Chardon, chairman of the board of directors, told AFP. Volkswagen Group France.