French deliveries buoy Stellantis BEV growth

A 54pc year-on-year sales increase in the French market propped up multinational automaker Stellantis' Q1 BEV sales results. The OEM's overall performance across the EU29 region, however, did not match its growth in France, adding up to a modest 4.5pc increase over Q1'23.

The growth builds on what the company last month called "stunning" 76pc growth for February all-electric sales in France, which amounted to a 37.1pc market share.

"In France, BEV volumes witness double-digit growth (+54pc), achieving a remarkable 35.7pc market share, up by 7.2 percentage points compared to the previous year," the automaker says.

Stellantis does not give unit numbers for its EV sales, but only relative growth figures. However, the firm reported a 28.5pc share of French BEV sales in Q1'23, which according to data from consultancy PWC on total French registrations, amounts to c.18,500 BEVs sold by Stellantis in France in Q1'23.

Using the OEM's 54pc year-on-year growth figure for French all-electric units in Q1'24, therefore, it can be calculated that Stellantis sold c.28,500 BEVs in France in Q1 of this year.

"The outstanding performance in electric vehicle sales in France highlights the potential of this segment when supported by demand incentives," says Stellantis COO Uwe Hochgeschurtz. "As we strive to make electric vehicles accessible to all through our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, a collective effort from all stakeholders is essential for widespread adoption and sustainable mobility."

Stellantis also recorded what it calls "significant volume increases" in BEVs in the UK (+9pc), Portugal (+5.5pc), and Poland (+8.9pc).

Stellantis brand Opel also today announced the launch of the Frontera SUV, which will be available as a BEV as well as a hybrid. The Frontera is a compact SUV which Stellantis says is "ideally suited to the urban and sub-urban environment".