PARIS – Sales of new electric vehicles in France surpassed gasoline ones for the first time in the first quarter of this year, a major milestone for lower-emission vehicles, helped by high gas prices and government subsidies for electrified models.
However, overall new car sales in France fell 17.3 percent in the first quarter, sinking nearly 20 percent in March for a tenth consecutive month, as the auto industry struggles with supply chain bottlenecks and global semiconductor shortages. . Tanjug.
Sales of all-electric and hybrid models account for nearly 40 percent of total new car sales, compared with a 38.3 percent share for conventional gasoline models, according to industry data published on the Platform Automobile (PFA) portal.
When gasoline is added to the 16.5 percent share of diesel engines in total sales in the first quarter, it means that models with internal combustion engines are still in the majority.
The best-selling car in France in March was the Tesla Model 3 , followed by Renault ‘s Dacia Spring and the Peugeot 208 Stelantis .
