- BYD’s French sales surged as registrations reached 5,419 in October, up 431.3% YoY, reflecting aggressive expansion amid rising local BEV demand and showroom activity around the Paris Motor Show.
- BEV registrations totaled 61,958 units in October, representing 41% of the market, while gasoline and diesel fell to a combined 11% of registrations.
- Chinese entrants target mainstream compact and crossover segments against Renault and Peugeot, but execution risks include scaling deliveries, dealer networks, and sustaining margins amid rapid volume growth.
France registered 149,341 new vehicles in October 2026, up 7% year over year (YoY), as the market continued to recover during the month of the Paris Motor Show, according to the latest data from the CCFA.
New vehicle registrations totaled 1.384 million in the first 10 months of the year, up 4% YoY, extending the market’s gradual recovery.
Electrification gained further ground in October. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations reached 61,958 units, accounting for 41% of the market and marking a significant increase in penetration.
Hybrid powertrains, including HEVs, PHEVs, mild hybrids (MHEVs) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), collectively accounted for 44% of registrations, retaining their position as the largest powertrain category. Meanwhile, conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles continued to lose ground. Gasoline registrations fell 44% YoY in October, while diesel registrations plunged 65%. Combined, they accounted for just 11% of the market.
Chinese automakers continued to expand rapidly in France, with several brands posting strong growth and attracting greater attention from local consumers during the Paris Motor Show.
BYD led the growth among Chinese brands. It registered 5,419 vehicles in France in October, surging 431.3% YoY. Its January-October total reached 28,086 units, up 185.4% YoY, lifting the automaker to seventh place in the monthly rankings.
MG registered 3,974 vehicles in October, up 30.5% YoY. Its year-to-date total stood at 29,524 units, up 23.7%, keeping it ahead of BYD as the best-selling Chinese brand in France over the first 10 months. The gap between the two, however, is narrowing.
Jaecoo, part of Chery Group, registered 2,865 vehicles in October. Its sales continued to climb, bringing its January-October total to 12,483 units as the brand steadily expands its presence in the market.
Among emerging Chinese EV makers, Leapmotor registered 1,390 vehicles in October, up 232.5% YoY. XPeng recorded 741 registrations, an increase of 116.7%, extending its rapid growth.
Tesla also posted gains, registering 2,410 vehicles in France in October, up 35.2% YoY. Its year-to-date registrations reached 47,609 units, surging 117.1%.
French automakers continued to dominate the market in terms of volume. Renault ranked first with 25,936 registrations, up 4.2% YoY, followed by Peugeot with 18,420 units, down 2.0%. Citroën took third place with 11,144 registrations, up 11.4%.
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