France's Electric Renault 5 Becomes Nation's Top Seller

France just proved that affordable electric cars can outsell everything else on the road, gas guzzlers included.

The Renault 5, a retro-styled electric vehicle priced around €25,000, became France's best-selling car in 2025. It wasn't just the top electric vehicle. It was the top car, period.

The little French EV delivered 6,426 units in December alone, crushing the competition with twice the annual sales of its nearest rival, the Tesla Model Y. For a country known for loving its compact city cars, this feels like a natural fit that just happens to be completely electric.

Overall, electric vehicles captured over a quarter of France's entire car market in 2025, hitting 26.7% of all sales. Fully electric cars grew to 20% of the market, up from 16.9% the year before. That means one in five new cars sold in France now runs entirely on batteries.

December saw even more dramatic results. Electric vehicles reached 34.4% of all car sales that month, with battery electrics alone accounting for nearly a quarter of every new vehicle leaving the lot.

The Renault 5's success reveals something important about the electric transition. When automakers offer EVs that match what people actually want, stylish cars at prices they can afford, buyers respond enthusiastically.

France's social leasing program helped put electric cars within reach of more families. The program offers affordable monthly payments on new EVs, removing the sticker shock that once kept electric cars in the luxury category.

The Ripple Effect

The Renault 5's triumph sends a signal far beyond France's borders. It proves that electric vehicles don't need to be expensive status symbols or utilitarian boxes. They can be fun, affordable, and desirable enough to beat gas cars on their own merits.

Other European countries are watching closely. When a mainstream electric car outsells everything else, it suggests the tipping point everyone predicted might actually be arriving. Automakers worldwide now have proof that the right electric car at the right price can dominate.

For French drivers, the shift means cleaner city air and lower fuel costs without sacrificing style or practicality.

The Renault 5's success story shows that when electric cars feel like a smart choice rather than a sacrifice, people vote with their wallets.