New car market: a modest but buoyant rebound for businesses
After a slowdown marked by shortages, rising logistics costs and an uncertain economic climate, the French car market is finally returning to stability.
This rebalancing is creating the right conditions for a revival in investment, particularly for companies that are in the process of renewing their fleets.
Total registrations in October 2025
In October, 139,514 new passenger cars were registered in France, an increase of 3 1Q3 over one year.
This moderate but steady increase shows that demand is consolidating.
This upturn reflects a return to confidence on the part of households and businesses alike.
For fleet managers, this more stable environment means :
- shorter delivery times;
- better budget visibility ;
- and the ability to negotiate maintenance volumes and contracts more effectively.
This standardisation allows fleet managers to integrate electric vehicles into their renewal cycles, without fear of operational imbalance.
Breakdown between private individuals and fleets
Private customers now account for 51 % of the market, up 6 %, boosted by public grants and social leasing.
Business fleets, for their part, retain 30 % of the market, despite a slight decline (-6 %).
This drop does not reflect a lack of interest, but rather a phase of strategic waiting: many companies are preparing their acquisitions to benefit from the future social pro leasing and tax incentives of 2026.
Fleets that look ahead to 2025 will benefit from a significant leverage effect on their costs and their environmental image.
Electrification: an unavoidable shift for fleets
Electricity is no longer an alternative: it is the main driver of automotive growth.
For a long time confined to a niche role, by 2025 it will be at the heart of growth in the French car market.
With mature technology, denser recharging networks and favourable tax treatment, the conditions are ripe for a sustainable switchover among fleets.
Strong growth in sales of electric cars
In October 2025, sales of electric cars grew by +63 %, reaching a market share of 24 %, an all-time record.
This growth is based on several levers:
- a more accessible and diversified model range, with models to suit all profiles (city cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles);
- a autonomy average of over 400 km ;
- tax incentives maintained, particularly for company vehicles;
- and a reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) compared with combustion engines.
For fleet managers, the logic is clear: an electric vehicle costs on average 25 to 30 % less to run over five years.
Maintenance costs fall, fuel stability protects against fuel surges, and compliance with Low Emission Zones (LEZ) becomes an operational advantage.
Private individuals and fleets: converging strategies
The number of electric vehicles registered in commercial fleets rose by 66 %, compared with +75 % for private customers.
The two segments are moving forward hand in hand, with fleets driving production and private customers confirming the trend.
For companies, the economic and CSR benefits are driving the switchover:
- exemption from TVS,
- increased depreciation,
- reduced maintenance,
- and carbon assessment.
Transitional electrified powertrains continue to play an important role:
- classic hybrids (HEV): +4 %,
- mild hybrid (MHEV): +25 %,
- range-extending plug-in hybrids (EREV): +29 %.
They serve as an intermediate stage, particularly for regional fleets or businesses requiring long journeys.
Trends by engine and segment
Combustion engines continue to decline: petrol (-27 %) and diesel (-34 %).
Conversely, the electrified segments are growing strongly:
- electric compact cars: Mégane E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.3 ;
- Family SUVs: Tesla Model Y, MG 4, Hyundai Kona EV ;
- zero-emission light commercial vehicles: Kangoo E-Tech, Ford E-Transit.
Fleets prefer versatile, modular vehicles with a high residual value, a guarantee of long-term profitability.
The second-hand market: a strategic lever for fleet managers
Electrification is no longer limited to new vehicles.
For a long time a secondary market, the used vehicle market is becoming an optimisation tool for companies.
The mass arrival of recent electric vehicles from leasing creates a unique opportunity to make fleets greener without tying up too much capital.
Volumes and trends in the used car market
October 2025, 483,743 transactions were recordeds, down 1 % year-on-year. This slight fall conceals a qualitative transformation: more recent, electrified and well-maintained vehicles are arriving on the market, often from leasing returns.
This development is of direct benefit to fleets, with immediate availability, lower acquisition costs and faster amortisation.
Powertrains: electric and hybrid on the rise
Used electric cars jump from +34 %, hybrids from 20 % to 25 % depending on the engine.
Companies can therefore green their fleets without tying up large budgets, while testing the real reliability of these models before full deployment.
Democratisation of recent electric vehicles
The average price of an electric vehicle less than three years old is €33,000, i.e. 15 % less than a new vehicle.
The flagship models, Renault 5 and Citroën ë-C3, still have a solid residual value.
This stability reassures CFOs: resale cycles are manageable and financial risks limited.
Managers are adopting new strategies:
- mixing new and used vehicles,
- shorten renewal cycles,
- and capitalise on resale value to balance budgets.
This flexibility makes VO a concrete lever for accelerating electrification.
Challenges and prospects for fleet managers
The fleet management function is evolving towards a strategic role: between regulations, costs and environmental responsibility, today's decisions will determine tomorrow's competitiveness.
An incentive-based regulatory framework
La Climate Law and Resilience imposes a growing quota of low-emission vehicles in fleets.
Regional subsidies, green taxation and the future professional social leasing scheme are strengthening the momentum.
Looking ahead to 2025 means that we can take advantage of the last windows of tax opportunity before the standards are tightened in 2026-2027.
A measurable economic impact
The economic benefits are now measurable:
- 25 % in average TCO compared with combustion ;
- maintenance costs half as much ;
- Average energy savings: €700 to €900 per year per vehicle.
Companies that electrify now are not only more competitive, but also more attractive to talented people who are sensitive to their employer's ecological responsibility.
Data: the new driving force in fleet management
AAA DATA and Beev underline a key point: data has become a strategic tool.
Thanks to monitoring and simulation tools, managers can :
- model the real cost of use,
- anticipate renewals,
- monitor CO₂ emissions per vehicle.
This data-driven approach transforms the fleet manager into the conductor of the energy performance orchestra.
Training and support for the transition
People remain a key factor.
The success of an electrified fleet also depends on driver training (eco-driving, recharging, planning) and internal communication.
Companies that support their teams find that up to 15 % in additional energy savings on their electric vehicles.
Impact on the automotive ecosystem
The electrification of fleets is now influencing the entire automotive value chain.
Manufacturers, distributors, leasers and data providers are adapting their strategies to this new reality, where the car becomes a connected service rather than a simple product.
This transformation is transforming the relationship between manufacturers and their customers, creating an interconnected ecosystem focused on performance, sustainability and cost control.
Manufacturers: accelerated electrification of product ranges
European carmakers are massively stepping up their electrification plans to meet the growing demand from fleets.
Modular multi-energy platforms now make it possible to produce electric, hybrid or utility models more quickly and at lower cost, depending on requirements.
At the same time, brands are stepping up their offerings for professionals:
- specific versions for fleets (maintenance packs, integrated telematics, recharging contracts),
- development of predictive maintenance solutions via connectivity,
- and the launch of high autonomy models for key accounts and local authorities.
The aim is to deliver faster, cut costs and guarantee the operational reliability of fleets.
Distributors: a new balance between new and second-hand products
Car dealers are becoming 360° mobility partners.
They no longer simply sell vehicles: they offer integrated, scalable solutions combining financing, maintenance, recharging and trade-in.
This approach is transforming the commercial relationship: distributors are becoming energy transition coaches, able to help SMEs and SMBs make the transition to electric power without technical complexity or additional initial cost.
At the same time, the dividing line between new and used cars is becoming blurred.
Thanks to returns from leasing and the availability of recent vehicles, dealers are building up hybrid offers: recent used vehicles guaranteed, recharging packs included and remote assistance.
This hybridisation of the model makes renewals more fluid and reduces the financial risk for companies.
Services: growing importance of automotive data and customer knowledge
Data is now the invisible fuel for electric mobility.
AAA DATA and Beev are building an intelligent management ecosystem in which every piece of data, from energy costs to recharging frequency, becomes a lever for action for fleets.
Thanks to augmented data, managers can :
- monitor the performance of each vehicle in real time,
- anticipate maintenance and replacements,
- adjust their usage strategies to reduce TCO and emissions.
This approach is leading to the emergence of data-driven mobility that is smoother, more cost-effective and resolutely sustainable.
The aim: to transform the vehicle fleet into a measurable strategic asset, rather than simply a cost centre.
Worth remembering: the electric transition is accelerating for fleets
October 2025 confirms maturity of the french car market and the the central role of fleets in the energy transition.
With +3 % total registrations and +63 % electrical salesThe market is no longer talking about experimentation, but consolidation.
For companies, the message is clear:
- anticipate regulatory obligations ;
- sustainably reduce operating costs;
- and promote their CSR strategy.
Beev is supporting this transformation with Fleet Manager, a complete solution for :
- audit existing fleets;
- simulate TCO and potential savings ;
- recommend suitable vehicles;
- install charging stations and train employees.
Electricity is no longer a future project: it's a choice for immediate performance.
