Which car manufacturers in France are playing the “Made in France” game? To find out, one certificate in particular serves as a reference: the famous “Origine France Garantie”.

Protection of French know-how

Designation “Origine France Garantie”. certificate created in 2011 by the Pro France association with the goal promote and guarantee the French origin of products. It aims to inform consumers about the origin of the goods they buy, to promote the development of the national economy and the transparency of French production. This certificate confirms it the product is made in France from raw materials of French origin, and therefore contributes to the development of national industry. In order for a product to be labeled “Origine France Garantie”, it must meet certain strict conditions. In the first place, at least 50% of the cost of the goods must be purchased in France. This includes labor costs, raw materials, research and development costs and indirect costs. The product must also, of course, be assembled in France. Companies wishing to obtain this certificate must submit their files to a certification body approved by the French Accreditation Committee (COFRAC). After receiving the certificate, the company can attach the “Origine France Garantie” (OFG) logo to its products, precious sesame!

Widespread in cars?

But it’s not easy for companies trying to live up to that goal. Tracking materials is a real challenge, especially for industries that use components from different sources, as in the case of automobiles. We often use the term “car manufacturer”, but in reality Peugeot, Fiat or Audi are only “builders” of cars, their parts come from numerous equipment manufacturers and external service providers, which may also be purchased overseas. As labor costs in France are higher than in other countries, this label is even harder to obtain as car brands try to preserve their margins in every way possible. Moving Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, Citroën C3 for example, shows it. So which cars in France have this precious sesame? A few years ago, Peugeot and Citroën had several in their range. We contacted the organization, and they confirmed that there is only one Toyota and its hybrid Yaris Cross assembled in Onnaing in the north (59)! Even Yaris no longer has the right to it!

Finally, the manufacturer that plays the “Made in France” game the most is a Japanese manufacturer, and that’s a shame! In 2023, Yaris Cross was even the most produced model in France…

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