Chinese Brands Capture 8% of French Market in July, Led by MG and BYD’s 2.3x Growth

French Automobile Manufacturers Committee (CCFA) released its latest data showing new car registrations in France reached 126,808 units in July 2026, up 9% year over year, marking the third consecutive month of growth.

From January to July this year, cumulative registrations reached 983,969 units, up 3% year over year.

In terms of powertrain mix, battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations reached 44,378 units in July, accounting for 35% of the total, with significant year-over-year growth.

Hybrid vehicles (including HEV and PHEV) accounted for 48% combined, remaining the largest powertrain category. Traditional internal combustion vehicles continued to shrink, with gasoline car registrations down 44% year over year and diesel down 60% in July. Combined, their market share has fallen to around 13%.

Chinese brands continued to increase their market share in France, with combined registrations of 9,935 vehicles in July, lifting market share to 8%. However, this was down from 13,594 units in June.

Among leading brands, BYD registered 2,718 vehicles in France in July, up 237.6% year over year, continuing to lead Chinese brand growth. Cumulative registrations for the first seven months reached 16,263 units, up 152.5% year over year. However, monthly sales moderated from 5,040 units in June.

MG registered 2,999 vehicles in July, up 26.5% year over year. Cumulative registrations for the first seven months reached 19,414 units, up 25.4% year over year, ranking first among Chinese brands in both monthly and cumulative sales.

Chery’s Jaecoo registered 1,737 vehicles in July, maintaining stable delivery momentum. Cumulative registrations for the first seven months reached 5,607 units, still in the brand’s early ramp-up phase.

Among Chinese EV startups, Leapmotor registered approximately 940 vehicles in July, up approximately 286.8% year over year. XPeng registered approximately 814 vehicles, up approximately 108.2% year over year. Both continued rapid growth but moderated from June levels.

Among other brands, Tesla registered 2,429 vehicles in France in July, up 85.8% year over year, but down significantly from 7,474 units in June. Model Y accounted for 2,401 registrations, representing approximately 99% of Tesla’s July sales in France, highlighting the company’s heavy reliance on a single model.

In contrast, local brands still hold an absolute volume advantage. Renault ranked first with 19,804 units, up 21.9% year over year. Peugeot ranked second with 16,946 units, up 6.7%. Dacia ranked third with 9,901 units, down 10.9% year over year.