Auto Market: Electric Cars Surpass Diesel in October 2022

For the second consecutive month, new electric car registrations have surpassed diesel, on a car market that is recovering.

This was the question last October after the optimistic figures for September: is the increase in new car sales a trend in France? Yes, following the release of October’s figures this Tuesday. The auto market has grown for the third consecutive time, with 124,981 registrations compared to 118,519 in October 2021, a 5.5% increase.

A car market at -32% vs 2019

“This third consecutive month of growth seems at least to show that the long decline of the market caused by the health crisis and shortages is finally being halted,” states Julien Billon, CEO of data provider AAA Data. “Volumes remain at historically low levels. Inflation and shortages are still present.”

Cumulatively over the first 10 months of 2022, passenger vehicle sales are still in the red: 1,237,049 units versus 1,378,892 last year, a -10.3%. The comparison is even more severe with 2019, the pre-Covid year: -32.4%, nearly 600,000 cars lost!

“Consumers remain cautious about the transition to electric and probably are not ready to follow the rising car prices,” continues J. Billon, “moreover, on the used car market [ed: used vehicles], the oldest models are those with the least decline in transactions, despite upcoming restrictions in ZFE areas and the desire to renew the fleet.”

Electric cars remain at a high level

A slight slowdown for electric cars in October, with a 13% market share compared to 16% in September. However, it continues another trend—its dominance over gradually declining diesel sales over many years, a pattern already observed in September. Last month, 16,866 electric vehicles were sold versus 16,845 diesel vehicles.

	October 22	October 21	Change	Market share
Gasoline	46,061	42,647	+8%	37%
Hybrids	28,610	21,557	+33%	23%
Electric	16,866	15,587	+8%	13%
Diesel	16,845	22,879	-26%	13%
Rechargeable Hybrids	11,408	11,560	-1%	9%
GPL	4,484	4,136	+8%	4%
E85	683	191	+258%	1%

October 2022 registration evolution (AAA Data)

In 2022, cumulatively, electric cars account for 13% of the auto market where combustion engines still dominate: 38% gasoline and 28% hybrids.

The Top 20 electric vehicle registrations in October 2022:

	Model	Registrations
1	Peugeot e-208	2,350
2	Renault Megane E-Tech	2,109
3	Fiat 500	1,276
4	Tesla Model 3	1,256
5	Renault Twingo	810
6	Peugeot e-2008	642
7	Renault ZOE	635
8	Volkswagen ID.3	602
9	Hyundai Kona	551
10	Dacia Spring	550
11	Tesla Model Y	534
12	Mini Electric	433
13	Opel Corsa-e	303
14	Volkswagen ID.4	278
15	Volvo XC40 Recharge	270
16	MG 4	263
17	Citroën ë-C4	248
18	DS 3 Crossback	230
19	MG Marvel R	224
20	Kia EV6	223

By brands, the Top 10 in October shows that hybrids are pushing Toyota upward (+55%), securing a third position ahead of Citroën! The price of cars also influences Dacia, once again close behind the chevron brand.

The Top 10 car brands in October 2022: