According to Gasgoo Data, French passenger car registrations totaled 156,629 units in September 2026, up 11.6% year-on-year (up 66% month-on-month).
Chinese brands posted around 12,680 registrations, accounting for a market share of about 8.1%. BYD topped among Chinese brands with 3,972 registrations (ranking 11th overall, up 281.9% year-on-year). Jaecoo J5 became the best-selling Chinese model with 1,408 units and Tesla Model Y (8,183 units) topped the overall model rankings again. France's BEV and PHEV penetration hit another record at 48.1% (BEV 41.7%), as Chinese brands accelerate their shift from marginal to mainstream players.
✅ Brand landscape: Renault (28,844 units), Peugeot (19,153 units), Citroën (11,897 units) and Dacia (10,398 units) took the top four, with domestic brands still dominant; Tesla (9,038 units) ranked fifth; BYD and MG followed the mainstream brands at 11th and 12th, with Chinese presence steadily growing.
✅ Electrification: Rapid electrification progress (BEV 41.7%, HEV+MHEV 36.6%, PHEV 6.4%). The BEV share rose significantly, up 12 percentage points from June 2026.
✅ Chinese Automaker Dynamics:
BYD: Among the fastest-growing Chinese brands; No. 1 in monthly registrations, narrowing the gap with mainstream brands.
MG: An early, established entrant; No. 1 among Chinese brands in Jan–Sep 2026 registrations; a value-for-money benchmark.
OMODA & JAECOO: Chery's overseas brands gaining visibility with ICE/HEV SUVs; Jaecoo J5 led Chinese models this month.
Leapmotor: Expanding in Europe through Stellantis' dealer network, strengthening brand promotion and local reach.
XPeng: Advanced driver assistance and 800V ultra-fast charging appeal to tech enthusiasts in the mid-to-high-end market.
Geely: A new entrant; E5 and Starray support showroom expansion and trial test-drive programs. E2 deliveries began in September.
💡 Strategic Outlook:
France's BEV and PHEV penetration broke through 48.1%, with BEV at 41.7% as the core driver. Tesla Model Y's consecutive wins confirm accelerating electrification, although French domestic brands still hold nearly half the market. Chinese brands' share rose to 8.1%, and BYD's 281.9% growth plus the popular Jaecoo J5 (HEV) shows that the combination of hybrid SUVs and high-value BEVs is becoming a dual breakthrough formula against French ICE vehicles and Tesla's BEVs. With Leapmotor leveraging Stellantis' channels, XPeng entering with smart-driving technology, and Geely delivering new models, Chinese brands are transitioning from marginal players to mainstream players: amid tariff and policy headwinds, they aim to convert the 8.1% share into a sustainable growth engine through a product matrix, channel expansion, and localization.
