PARIS — Sales of new cars in France surged 23 percent in March compared with the 2022, extending a streak of sales gains to eight months as shortages of components that constrained production continue to ease.
There were 182,713 passenger vehicles sold in March, according to the trade group PFA.
For the year, the market is up by 15 percent.
Sales in March 2022 were down 20 percent, largely because of a shortage of semiconductors.
Nearly every volume brand recorded big gains, led by Tesla (up 80 percent), BMW (78 percent) and Mini (72 percent).
Suzuki (down 12 percent) Mercedes-Benz (down 10 percent) and Ford ( down 7.5 percent) each lost significant ground in the month.
Sales of full-electric vehicles were at a record 17 percent of the market, PFA said. At the same time, CO2 emissions hit a record low, at 97.5 grams per km.