Sales of new cars, which did not pass the first arrest in 2020, were weighed down by the effects of the conflict in Ukraine and a global shortage of semiconductors.

However, neither electronic components nor automobiles; no cars, no sale; no sale… no sale! And 2022 will see just 1.5 million registrations, the worst result since the long-ago days when the Quai Javel still had Citroën factories. Faced with such a Berezina, 2023 was expected as a judge of the peace.

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Thanks to sales growth of 16.1% last year, the number of new car registrations exceeded 1.77 million. So, of course, we are a long way from the 2.21 million copies of 2019, just before the pandemic spoiled the party. However, this figure is close to those recorded, for example, between 2012 and 2014.

Not too bad, and even surprising when you see new car prices go up exponentially. So, according to the data of the specialized firm AAAData, the average price of a new car is 35,300 euros. Allow €28,000 for a ‘regular’ petrol (but €35,000 if it’s a hybrid), almost €42,000 for an electric and almost €60,000 for a hybrid car.

Faced with such peaks, isn’t the market starting to rise again the best proof of the indispensable nature of the car for the French?

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