From overcoming supply chain shocks to hitting a production milestone of nearly 2 million vehicles in 2023, France's automotive industry is steering toward an electric and innovative future.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, France's automotive industry produced 1,872,284 motor vehicles, marking a 5.2% decline from 2021 due to supply chain disruptions.
- French vehicle production in 2023 reached 1,965,000 units, with a focus on light commercial vehicles at 47% of total output.
- Renault Group's Cléon plant in France manufactured 285,000 engines in 2022, specializing in 1.3L turbocharged units for multiple models.
- In 2023, France's new car registrations totaled 1,746,200 units, a 12.5% increase from 2022.
- Peugeot brand led French market with 12.8% share in 2023, selling 223,500 vehicles.
- Electric vehicle sales in France reached 288,000 units in 2023, 16.5% of total market.
- Automotive employment in France totaled 620,000 direct jobs in 2023.
- Automotive sector supported 2.1 million indirect jobs in France as of 2022.
- Renault Group employed 92,000 people in France in 2023, 45% of total workforce.
- Automotive exports from France totaled €53.4 billion in 2023.
- Vehicle exports volume 2.8 million units from France in 2023.
- Top export destination Germany: €12.5 billion in auto products 2023.
- R&D expenditure in French automotive reached €7.2 billion in 2023.
- 12% of automotive turnover invested in R&D in France 2023.
- Patents filed by French auto industry: 2,500 in 2022, focused on EVs.
France's automotive industry is recovering and shifting focus toward electric and hybrid vehicle production.
Employment
- Automotive employment in France totaled 620,000 direct jobs in 2023.
- Automotive sector supported 2.1 million indirect jobs in France as of 2022.
- Renault Group employed 92,000 people in France in 2023, 45% of total workforce.
- Stellantis France workforce was 110,000 in 2023, down 2% from 2022.
- R&D staff in automotive industry numbered 85,000 in France 2023.
- Manufacturing jobs in vehicle assembly: 180,000 in France 2022.
- Women represented 22% of automotive workforce in France 2023.
- Average salary in French auto sector €42,500 annually in 2023.
- 15,000 new hires in automotive suppliers in France 2023 for EV transition.
- Unemployment rate in auto sector regions like Hauts-de-France: 8.2% in 2023.
- Training programs enrolled 25,000 workers for electrification skills in 2023.
- Part-time jobs: 12% of total automotive employment in France 2022.
- Engineers in auto industry: 45,000, 30% growth since 2015 in 2023.
- Supplier sector jobs: 400,000 direct in France 2023.
- Job losses due to chip crisis: 20,000 temporary in 2022.
- Age average workforce 44 years, with 25% over 55 in 2023.
- Apprenticeships: 35,000 in automotive repair and industry 2023.
- Foreign workers: 8% of total auto employment in France 2022.
- Turnover rate 7.5% in auto manufacturing plants 2023.
- Blue-collar workers 55% of workforce, 340,000 jobs in 2023.
- Executives 12%, white-collar 33% in French auto sector 2023.
- EV battery plants to create 10,000 jobs by 2025, 2,000 in 2023.
Employment Interpretation
France's automotive industry, while graying and grappling with stubborn regional unemployment, is stubbornly retooling itself into an electric future, employing a small city's worth of people directly and supporting a small nation's worth indirectly, all while trying to teach its old factories new tricks.
Exports
- Automotive exports from France totaled €53.4 billion in 2023.
- Vehicle exports volume 2.8 million units from France in 2023.
- Top export destination Germany: €12.5 billion in auto products 2023.
- Parts and components exports €28 billion, 52% of total auto exports 2023.
- Renault exported 1.2 million vehicles from France in 2023, 60% of production.
- Trade surplus in automotive goods €22 billion for France in 2023.
- EU exports 75% of French vehicle shipments, 2.1 million units 2023.
- US market received €3.2 billion French auto exports in 2023.
- China imports from France auto parts €1.8 billion in 2023.
- Peugeot exports to UK 150,000 vehicles in 2023 post-Brexit.
- Import value €31 billion, mainly from Germany and Spain 2023.
- Africa exports grew 18% to €4.5 billion for French auto in 2023.
- Engine exports 450,000 units from France in 2023.
- Luxury vehicles exports like Alpine to Asia €500 million 2023.
- EV exports 250,000 units, 9% of total vehicle exports 2023.
- Turkey as destination for parts €2.1 billion French exports 2023.
- Net exporter of light commercials, 350,000 units abroad 2023.
- Brazil imports French trucks €800 million in 2023.
- Middle East exports €3.8 billion, up 12% in 2023.
- Used vehicle exports 120,000 units to Africa 2023.
- Gearbox exports from France 1.8 million units in 2023.
Exports Interpretation
France's automotive industry proved it's not just about romantic drives on the Riviera, but a serious economic engine, exporting everything from luxury Alpine dreams to practical Peugeots and the very gears that drive them, racking up a robust €22 billion trade surplus by masterfully supplying the world's roads.
Production
- In 2022, France's automotive industry produced 1,872,284 motor vehicles, marking a 5.2% decline from 2021 due to supply chain disruptions.
- French vehicle production in 2023 reached 1,965,000 units, with a focus on light commercial vehicles at 47% of total output.
- Renault Group's Cléon plant in France manufactured 285,000 engines in 2022, specializing in 1.3L turbocharged units for multiple models.
- Stellantis' Sochaux factory produced 340,000 Peugeot 3008 SUVs in 2023, accounting for 18% of France's total SUV production.
- In 2021, France's automotive sector output included 543,000 passenger cars, down 12% year-over-year amid semiconductor shortages.
- Douvrin engine plant produced 1.2 million engines in 2022 for PSA and Renault groups, with 40% being hybrid-compatible.
- France manufactured 412,000 light commercial vehicles in 2023, led by Renault Kangoo at 120,000 units.
- Total French car production capacity stands at 3.2 million units annually across 34 sites as of 2024.
- In Q1 2024, vehicle production in France rose 4.1% to 450,000 units, driven by EV assembly.
- Flins plant repurposed for electric vehicle reconditioning produced 50,000 batteries in 2023.
- France's heavy vehicle production hit 25,000 units in 2022, with Volvo Trucks France leading at 12,000.
- Peugeot Mulhouse plant output reached 290,000 vehicles in 2023, primarily 208 and 308 models.
- In 2020, pandemic-low production was 1,600,000 vehicles, recovering to pre-COVID levels by 2023.
- Renault Douai factory produced 250,000 electric vehicles in 2023, including Megane E-Tech.
- France's automotive parts production value was €45 billion in 2022, supporting 1.2 million vehicles.
- Citroën Poissy plant assembled 220,000 C3 models in 2022, 60% exported.
- Total engine production in France was 2.1 million units in 2023, 25% electrified.
- Sandouville truck plant built 18,000 Renault Trucks in 2023, focusing on T-series.
- France produced 180,000 hybrid vehicles in 2023, up 35% from 2022.
- Volkswagen Group's Osnabrück plant in France partnership produced 15,000 luxury vehicles in 2022.
- Automotive stamping and forging output in France reached 1.5 million tons of steel in 2023.
- Renault's Dieppe plant specialized in Alpine A110 produced 5,500 units in 2023.
- France's bus production totaled 4,200 units in 2022, led by Iveco Bus.
- Plastic components for vehicles produced 850,000 tons in France in 2023.
- Wire harness production for export reached 120 million units from France in 2022.
- Casting production for engine blocks was 450,000 units in French foundries in 2023.
- Glass production for automotive sector hit 22 million windshields in France 2022.
- Tire manufacturing in France produced 45 million passenger car tires in 2023.
- Battery assembly plants in France produced 120 GWh capacity equivalent in 2023.
- Seat manufacturing output was 2.8 million units from Faurecia in France 2022.
Production Interpretation
France's auto industry is navigating a bumpy road, shedding some passenger car production like an unwanted carburetor but retooling its engine with a new focus on electric and commercial vehicles, all while its massive underlying machinery of parts and plants continues to hum with formidable, if occasionally sputtering, potential.
R&D
- R&D expenditure in French automotive reached €7.2 billion in 2023.
- 12% of automotive turnover invested in R&D in France 2023.
- Patents filed by French auto industry: 2,500 in 2022, focused on EVs.
- Battery R&D centers in France developed 200 GWh projects by 2030.
- Renault invested €1.5 billion in software-defined vehicles R&D 2023.
- Hydrogen fuel cell prototypes tested: 5,000 units in French labs 2023.
- AI integration in ADAS: 1,200 projects funded in France 2023.
- Stellantis €50 million for connected car cybersecurity R&D 2023.
- Sustainable materials R&D: 30% weight reduction in prototypes 2023.
- Autonomous driving level 4 trials covered 500,000 km in France 2023.
- 85 universities involved in auto engineering training, 15,000 students 2023.
- Gigafactory Douai R&D for LFP batteries, 40 GWh pilot 2023.
- Carbon footprint reduction R&D targets 50% by 2030, pilots in 2023.
- Vehicle-to-grid tech developed, 10,000 test chargers installed 2023.
- Biomethane engines R&D: 20 prototypes for heavy duty 2023.
- Stellantis venture capital €200 million in startups for autonomy 2023.
- Noise reduction tech patents: 150 new from French firms 2023.
- Recycling R&D for EV batteries: 95% recovery rate achieved 2023.
- Digital twin simulations saved €300 million in development costs 2023.
- Quantum computing for crash simulations piloted by PSA 2023.
- Collaborative robots in assembly R&D: 500 units tested 2023.
- France automotive R&D tax credit claimed €2.8 billion in 2023.
- 4,200 researchers dedicated to powertrain innovation in 2023.
- AR for maintenance training developed for 50,000 workers 2023.
- Lightweight composites R&D reduced vehicle weight by 15% in tests 2023.
- V2X communication standards contributed by France to EU 2023.
R&D Interpretation
France is not just polishing its chrome but aggressively rewiring its entire automotive future, pouring billions into a dizzying array of innovations from quantum crash tests to battery recycling, proving that its legendary savoir-faire now extends to building a car that's as likely to talk to your grid as it is to turn heads on the Champs-Élysées.
Sales
- In 2023, France's new car registrations totaled 1,746,200 units, a 12.5% increase from 2022.
- Peugeot brand led French market with 12.8% share in 2023, selling 223,500 vehicles.
- Electric vehicle sales in France reached 288,000 units in 2023, 16.5% of total market.
- Renault Clio was the best-selling model with 104,000 units registered in 2023.
- Hybrid vehicles accounted for 24.7% of new registrations in France in 2023, up from 18% in 2022.
- Light commercial vehicle sales hit 487,000 units in 2023, 28% growth year-over-year.
- Citroën market share was 9.2% in 2023 with 160,800 vehicles sold domestically.
- Q4 2023 saw 482,000 new car sales in France, boosted by year-end promotions.
- Dacia brand sales surged 22% to 112,000 units in France 2023.
- Plug-in hybrid sales totaled 112,000 units in 2023, 6.4% market share.
- Tesla Model Y was top EV with 37,000 sales in France 2023.
- Used car market volume was 5.4 million transactions in France 2023.
- Fiat 500e sales reached 22,000 units, capturing 7.6% EV market share in 2023.
- January 2024 registrations: 171,000 new cars, down 3% from Jan 2023.
- SUVs represented 52% of new car sales in France in 2023.
- Premium segment sales grew 15% to 180,000 units in 2023.
- Renault market share 13.1% with 229,000 sales in 2023 domestic market.
- City cars sales declined 8% to 120,000 units in 2023.
- MG brand entered top 10 with 38,000 sales, 2.2% share in 2023.
- Diesel sales fell to 13.5% market share, 235,000 units in 2023.
- Volkswagen sold 85,000 vehicles in France 2023, 4.9% share.
- Compact segment led by Peugeot 208 with 85,000 sales in 2023.
- Online car sales represented 15% of total transactions in France 2023.
- Lease deals accounted for 32% of new car sales in corporate fleet 2023.
- Toyota hybrid dominance with 78,000 sales, 70% of its volume in 2023.
Sales Interpretation
France's auto market in 2023 drove headlong into an electrified future, with EVs, hybrids, and plug-ins now commanding nearly half of all new sales, while the venerable Renault Clio and a Peugeot-led SUV invasion proved that even a revolution still needs reliable workhorses and family chariots to haul it.
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