What are the best-selling electric cars in France?

In an explosion, the electric car market, long dominated by the Renault ZOE, gave way to Tesla, then to the Peugeot e-208 in 2022.

They were negligible until 2020. That year, sales of new electric cars surpassed the symbolic threshold of 100,000 units. They then approached 10% market share in 2021, one in 10 cars!

In this bustling new sector, what are the star models? Which are the best-selling electric cars? Here’s the market guide from 2010 to 2022.

In 2022, the Year of the Dacia Spring?

In January, a new trend was emerging. While some expected the ZOE to withstand Tesla, an outsider broke through. The Dacia Spring dominated the market in the first months. But quickly, the Peugeot e-208 electric took the lead again and remained on top in July 2022. On the podium, the Fiat 500 Electric now trails behind the Spring, with Renault ZOE and Twingo E-Tech maintaining the Top 5.

Behind, the Tesla Model 3 gradually cedes its place to the Model Y, now ninth. The new Renault Mégane E-Tech electric follows the American sedan after being the top-selling electric car in July. The Peugeot e-2008 beats the Model Y for just one unit in eighth place, thanks to its recent update (340 km range). Finally, the Hyundai Kona Electric is nearing the end of its career. While awaiting the new generation in 2023, it remains in the top 10.

Here is the Top 20 of electric car registrations from January to July 2022 (source AAA-Data):

1. Peugeot e-208 : 11,090 units
2. Dacia Spring : 9,864 units
3. Fiat 500e : 9,860 units
4. Renault ZOE : 9,077 units
5. Renault Twingo E-Tech : 8,601 units
6. Tesla Model 3 : 7,808 units
7. Renault Megane E-Tech : 4,736 units
8. Peugeot e-2008 : 4,012 units
9. Tesla Model Y : 4,011 units
10. Hyundai Kona Electric : 3,767 units
11. Mini Cooper SE : 2,867 units
12. Citroën ë-C4 : 2,819 units
13. Kia e-Niro : 2,550 units
14. Kia EV6 : 2,035 units
15. MG ZS EV : 1,769 units
16. Hyundai Ioniq 5 : 1,588 units
17. Opel Corsa-e : 1,520 units
18. Skoda Enyaq : 1,322 units
19. Opel Mokka-e : 1,314 units
20. Volkswagen ID.3 : 1,204 units

In 2021, Tesla Model 3 Surpasses ZOE

The electric car market continued to grow in 2021, by +46% compared to 2020, recording 162,106 registrations.

The most sold electric car worldwide and in Europe, Tesla Model 3 is also No. 1 in France. With 24,911 units, the sedan ended Renault ZOE’s reign, with only 23,573 units.

A small nuance: the figures we share refer to passenger cars. Considering the total including utility vehicles, the French brand surpasses the American. Either way, Tesla demonstrates unstoppable growth. The Peugeot e-208 remains a distant observer, with 17,858 registrations, while a small phenomenon starts to appear.

The Dacia Spring, which appeared only in September, takes 4th place with 11,386 units, overtaking the Fiat 500, Renault Twingo, and Kia e-Niro. The 5,860 sales are not enough to prevent Volkswagen ID.3 from dropping to 8th place, leaving the Peugeot e-2008 (5,461 units) and Mini Cooper SE (5,141 units) to close out the Top 10.

In 2020, Renault ZOE Keeps the Throne of Electric Cars

New year, new dominance of ZOE? With doubled sales at 37,409 units, the hatchback from the diamond brand retains its place but sees in its rearview the few 16,557 Peugeot 208 electric cars. Behind, the Tesla Model 3 takes third place (6,477), ahead of the Korean Hyundai Kona and Kia e-Niro with over 5,000 sales each.

The Volkswagen ID.3 made its appearance in 6th position despite only 4 months of deliveries, surpassing the Nissan Leaf that was in decline, the Peugeot e-2008, the DS 3 Crossback, and Mini Cooper SE.

2013-2019, Renault ZOE Crushes Nissan Leaf

Arriving at the end of 2012, Renault ZOE quickly overwhelmed the electric car market from the start. With 5,511 units in 2013, it accounted for nearly 2 out of 3 sales, leaving crumbs for the Nissan Leaf and Bolloré Bluecar. After barely better in 2014, 2015 saw the ZOE double to over 10,000 registrations. Again, 2016 was lackluster for the hatchback, with the Japanese returning close to 4,000 cars.

In 2017, Renault’s electric model surpassed 15,000 units, then 17,000 in 2018, still holding 55% of the market against the Leaf and BMW i3. Although not threatened until 2019, with 18,817 sales, Tesla Model 3 launched successfully in second place (6,455 units), while Kia e-Niro entered the Top 5.

2010-2012, Mini, Bolloré, and Citroën at the Forefront of Electric Cars

Until 2010, electric cars were almost nonexistent. With 184 cars on a market of 2 million, that’s hardly significant. By model, the Mini electric was conducting its real-world trials for the future BMW i3 (launched in 2013).

With 50 units, it outdid the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive (34 units), the clones Peugeot i0n and Citroën C-Zero (30 and 27 registrations), or the Renault Fluence ZE (13 cars). The Tesla Roadster even made the Top 10 with 11 units, tied with the lesser-known Think City.

French clones then dominated in 2011 (645 and 639 units), on a sector that exploded to 2,630 sales. The new Bolloré Bluecar supplied Autolib’ with 399 cars, ahead of the Fluence (396 units) and the small Mia (249 units). In 2012, electric sales doubled to 5,663 registrations, with Bolloré (1,543 units) slightly ahead of the duo PSA (1,409 and 1,335 sales), Nissan Leaf starting its career (524 units), and Mia (384 units).

Statistical sources: AVERE-France and CCFA

Also read: Car market: why was January 2022 so depressed?