The first quarter of 2026 saw plugin EVs take 33.0% share in France, up from 22.9% in Q1 2025. BEV share grew strongly year on year (YoY), while PHEV share was flat. Overall Q1 auto volume was 339,478 units, down some 2.5% YoY. The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling BEV in Q1.
2026 Q1 auto sales saw combined plugin EVs take 33.0% share in France, with full electrics (BEVs) at 28.1% and plugin hybrids (PHEVs) at 4.9%. These figures compare YoY against 22.9% combined, 18.2% BEVs and 4.8% PHEVs.
In volume terms, BEVs were up 50% YoY to 112,086 units, whilst PHEVs were flat, at 19,584 units. Mild hybrids and some HEVs (now combined at 47% share) continue to replace combustion-only powertrains. Diesel-only are now down to 2.5% and petrol-only down to 14.6%. In the longue durée of the EV transition, mild hybrids and HEVs are only a stop gap on the way to almost entirely BEVs.
Best-Selling BEV Models
The best-selling BEV in Q1 2026 was the Tesla Model Y, with 10,670 units registered, ahead of its previous best Q1, back in 2023 (9,363 units).
