Paris motor show: Macron calls for European preference against China

President Emmanuel Macron will say goodbye to the Paris Motor Show this Monday, marking his final appearance at the biennial event as head of state. The visit provides an opportunity for a leader who once declared his love for cars to review his achievements in the sector.

The Élysée underscores that the automotive sector lies at the core of French manufacturing, supporting roughly 400,000 direct jobs across the country. The administration highlights the rapid growth of electric‑vehicle output and the development of a domestic battery industry as key accomplishments.

Until 2017, French electric‑car production was minimal, centered on the Renault Zoe. A presidential source notes that at the start of Macron’s first term, France possessed “no battery factories at all.”

Electrification and “Made in France”

Since then, manufacturing has accelerated, yet it still falls short of covering domestic demand. In 2025, French registration data from Insee recorded 331,000 new electric passenger cars, while French factories produced 216,000 units.

Nevertheless, around 60 % of French‑made electric cars are shipped abroad, primarily to the UK and other European markets. Consequently, only about 26 % of new electric vehicles sold in France originate domestically, forcing automakers to import a large share to meet local demand.

As a result, France is still far from reaching the government’s goal of manufacturing two million electric vehicles annually by 2030. The Élysée points to progress in fleet electrification and notes the recent inauguration of four battery factories in the northern region.

As customary, the president’s visit will be preceded on Sunday evening by an Élysée dinner that gathers leading figures from the automotive industry. Approximately 60 participants are expected, including French and European carmakers, parts suppliers, battery producers, and firms focused on rare‑earth materials.

The Élysée confirms that neither brand executives nor Chinese exhibitors will be present at the dinner. Nonetheless, the Motor Show will feature many Chinese manufacturers among its participants.

A strict European preference

China’s vehicle export capacity reaches 55 million units, dwarfing Europe’s 12 million. In response, Paris is urging the EU to “finally support what it produces” amid the growing influx.

Concerning electric vehicles, France contends that EU subsidies should preferentially back models assembled within the 27 member states. The objective is to create a genuine European preference that spans the full value chain, from batteries to spare parts.

While Paris is receptive to high‑quality Chinese investment in Europe, especially technology transfers, it seeks to prevent the emergence of “screwdriver factories” where only the final assembly occurs in Europe and all other components are sourced abroad.

Achieving alignment with Berlin is challenging, the Élysée notes, because the French and German automotive models differ markedly.

“Germany exports far more vehicles than France, so the interests are not identical,” a presidential source observes.

Berlin is concerned that restrictive measures—such as a strict European preference or tougher environmental standards—could trigger retaliation against German automakers, many of whom rely heavily on Chinese buyers.

Talks with Germany still ongoing

The German business daily Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday that France and Germany had reached a tentative deal. According to the report, Paris would agree to lower the EU’s 2035 CO2‑reduction target for new cars from 90 % to 80 % relative to 2021 levels, as proposed by the European Commission, in exchange for Berlin’s support of tighter “Made in Europe” regulations.

The Élysée countered ahead of the Motor Show, stating that “there is no agreement” and that only “talks” are ongoing regarding European preference.

Following a press‑focused day that includes the president’s appearance, the Paris Motor Show—one of the world’s oldest and most attended events—will open to the public from 13 to 18 October at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre.

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