Despite what some may say, cars remain essential for the majority of the French population.

The French continue their beautiful story with the car, but with increasing seriousness, balancing necessity, budget, and evolving usage.

La Centrale, the first 100% automotive marketplace, conducted a study with IFOP among 1,000 French people to understand their relationship with the car in 2025. The result: despite the debates on soft mobility, the car remains essential for 7 out of 10 French people.

This need is even more pronounced in rural areas (87%), where alternatives are rare, whereas in the Paris region, only 54% consider the car essential. Age also plays a role: young adults are less attached to the car, unlike those over 35 for whom it remains a pillar.

A useful car, less pleasure

While the majority sees the car as a necessity, a minority views it as mere comfort (11%), a constraint (8%), or even an outdated mode (7%). Only 3% still perceive it as a passion, and 1% as a symbol of social success.

For their future purchases, 63% of the French prefer to turn to used cars, primarily for economic reasons. Recent and well-equipped models are popular, especially among those aged 35-49. New cars attract only 16% of respondents, and alternative options like leasing remain marginal (11%).

Despite inflation, more than one in two French people (51%) remains loyal to traditional buying. And for 68% of them, long-term ownership is the norm. In rural areas, this trend even rises to 75%, indicating a need for stability.

Finally, at equal prices, the internal combustion engine remains preferred over electric vehicles. Only 13% would choose an electric car immediately, although interest is growing among youth and urban dwellers. The familiar and perceived practicality of combustion engines still holds an advantage.

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