Inflation obliges, the French keep their car longer than before, and avoid changing it before their backs are against the wall. And, even in this case, they are turning more to second-hand than new: this is in any case the trend that is emerging in the latest Kantar Parc Auto 2023 study that Le Figaro exclusively unveils this Thursday, August 31. Produced at the start of the year, it looks back on the habits of the French in 2022.
If households are still as attached to owning their own car – with 85.9% of households owning at least one vehicle -, “the inflationary context continues to impact vehicle purchases, and the fleet is aging as a result”, notes the study carried out each year. In 2022, the average age of a vehicle thus reached 9.8 years, compared to 8.3 in 2012, 7.3 in 2002 and 6.1 in 1992. A phenomenon that can also be observed on diesel vehicles than gasoline vehicles.
In fact, “the level of sales of new vehicles, which had fallen sharply with the health crisis and supply problems since 2020, is falling further in 2022”, notes the study, while the number of registrations of private vehicles was 1529 in 2022, compared to 1650 in 2020 and 2173 in 2018. difficulties in the supply of raw materials,” explains Béatrice Guilbert, consulting director at Kantar, Insights division. An analysis confirmed by the Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA), according to which “the purchase of new vehicles has never been so low for more than 10 years”.
This trend could well continue in the coming years, since less than two out of ten people plan to replace their car by the end of 2025. Only 3% of respondents plan to buy a car in the next six months, and more than half (56%) do not know if they will change vehicles. “Uncertainty is decreasing, in favor of those declaring that they will replace their vehicle after 2025, confirming the preference for delaying purchase and replacement, which could further accentuate the aging of the fleet”, specifies the study. In addition, in the context of a future purchase, two out of three individuals would prefer to opt for a used model, rather than a new one.
This does not prevent the French from looking at alternative models. The study indeed shows that, despite an aging fleet, diesel continues to decline, “while alternative energies are becoming more and more important in new registrations in the fleet”. “We have a real drop in the diesel fleet,” welcomes Béatrice Guilbert, these vehicles representing only 16% of new registrations. Consequently, its weight in the park is also decreasing, falling this year to 47%, below the symbolic bar of 50%. And even if the alternative engines, hybrids, rechargeable hybrids or even electric, “remain quite minimal” according to Béatrice Guilbert, they are “increasingly important in new registrations”. They thus weighed 43% of vehicles in 2022, and their weight within the fleet has increased accordingly to reach 8% of the total.
Similarly, the French try to do without their car when they can, finds the study, which is based on the frequency of vehicle use. “A form of rationalization in the use of vehicles by economic constraint, and not only by ecological awareness”, believes Béatrice Guilbert. In addition, the new habits seem to be perpetuated, with “teleworking and the use of new modes of travel”. “The rise in fuel prices” also weighs.
This drop in the frequency of vehicle use is accompanied “by an upward recovery in the use of alternative modes such as carpooling, which has started to rise again”, underlines Béatrice Guilbert. In 2022, the rental rate reached 6%, compared to 5% the previous year. Same thing for carpooling, while 14% of French people practiced it occasionally or regularly in 2022, compared to 11% the previous year. If there is no “revolution” in the way of getting around, the director at Kantar Insights division therefore notes “at least tremors” in the behavior of the French.
