If Peugeot got off to a good start in 2024, registrations of its electric models have slowed significantly in recent months. Conversely, Renault benefited from better results over the same period, in particular thanks to the Renault 5.
The war between the two automobile groups Renault and Stellantis continues on the French market. If the second can boast of being the leader of the electric car market in France for the year 2024, thanks to a wide choice of electric vehicles and 14 brands to its credit, the trend is not celebrating, if we take a closer look at the registration figures for recent months in France.
Conversely, Renault has fewer 100% electric models, but its strategy seems to be paying off in the French electric car market. Registration statistics published by AAA Data on 1ᵉʳ January 2025 allows us to launch into some comparisons between the two long-standing adversaries.
Despite appearances, the Peugeot e-208 has problems in its wings
The Peugeot e-208 was the star of sales at the start of the year, driven by the success of social leasing. Nearly 12,500 models were sold through it in 6 weeks, or more than 50% of registrations for the year. This propelled the e-208 to the top of the registration rankings for 5 consecutive months. A place that the vehicle managed to maintain in the annual total until November. Then, the Tesla Model Y became the market leader again.
Peugeot's city car finally finished in second place with 23,602 units registered over the year. This is a very good result on paper, greatly helped by the €13,000 in subsidies on versions usually sold for more than €33,000.
Outside of the social leasing system, registrations of the e-208 have started to run out of steam. The month of December is even the worst month for registrations in more than 2 years. We find the model around 15th place with only 628 registrations.
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On January 2, Peugeot just lowered the starting price of its entry-level version by more than €4,000. It increases to €28,000 instead of €32,080 (discounted price previously observed on the brand's configurator) or €34,100 catalog price. Unfortunately, the rest of the range, although the most popular, has not seen its prices drop. The measure seems for the moment to be in vain on the part of the manufacturer.
Peugeot e-3008: a failure?
New improved platform for electric, with a bold design, the new Peugeot e-3008 was to be one of the company's electric bestsellers. Unfortunately, registrations of electric motors are not taking off. Without saying that it is a flop, the results of this novelty raise many questions. Is production hampered by missing components (motors or batteries)? Is the demand not there? Are customers waiting for the 700 km range version which is slow to arrive?
While at their launch, we imagined a fierce war between the Renault Scénic and Peugeot e-3008, in the end there was no match.
- Peugeot e-3008: 25th place with 3,511 registrations
- Renault Scénic: 8th place with 8,953 registrations
The two models are not quite in the same category, neither in size nor in price. The match appears unequal, but manufacturers must above all respond to customer needs. And, in this game, Renault has apparently better understood the expectations of the French market. Peugeot's strategy of moving upmarket seems to have reached its limits.
Everything contrasts with the launches of the ë-C3 and R5
Other launches also attracted a lot of attention at the end of the year: Citroën ë-C3 and Renault 5. If the affordable model from Citroën aims above all to compete with the Dacia Spring, from the Renault group, it was by elsewhere considered dangerous for the Renault 5, because positioned much cheaper. However, price is the crux of the matter when it comes to electric cars. The match between a rational model and a passionate model began at the start of the year when orders were taken.
Citroën recorded a significant number of pre-orders, like the Renault 5. However, the launch did not go as hoped. Software development fell behind schedule, compromising delivery times for models sold under social leasing. The company worked hard and delivered the first copies in record time, just before the fateful date of September 30. But there were also problems:
- The copies are far from being finalized and made reliable, the bugs are numerous and repeated updates must be made at the dealership.
- The brand did not deliver all the social leasing copies on time, and had to come out of its own pocket to compensate.
After the first deliveries, which were somewhat rushed, the rest of the orders were not much smoother: delays, problems, recalls. Even if the sales of this affordable model can be considered a success, Citroën got its feet caught in this more than chaotic and failed launch.
For its part, Renault has rolled out a smooth plan for the launch of its Renault 5. All models are not free from teething problems, but this is out of all proportion to what we can observe from the French brand competitor.
In the end, Citroën delivered 8,252 copies this year and Renault 9,973 copies of its R5. However, it should be noted that Renault registered many more examples for demonstration models than Citroën. This slightly alters the result, even if these examples will end up in private homes. It is especially in 2025 that it will be interesting to follow these two new competitors, once the delivery of the pre-ordered models has passed.
Illusive positive results
The Renault Mégane, which ends the year 2024 in 3rd place on the podium, seems to be good news for Renault. The reality is a little different. With 16,800 registrations, the model is down 5% compared to 2023, despite some sales ensured by social leasing. The Renault Scénic strengthens the Renault range in 8th place, but the results are a little disappointing.
Absent for many months for its renewal, the Dacia Spring has not regained its former volumes, now that it is deprived of government aid. This is a drop of more than 82% for this model in 2024. But, don't be jealous, at Stellantis, other models are dropping out despite continued aid: the Fiat 500e records a 37% drop in registrations.
It is difficult to know if without social leasing, the results would have been completely different on the French market. One thing is certain: the current trend does not bring much optimism for 2025, despite falling prices and interesting new models.
