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Summary of our market study
The global carwash market is estimated to be worth $31 billion by 2023
The French carwash market is estimated at around 1 billion euros.
In France, the market is dynamic, with over 50% of motorists having already used a professional carwash. The majority prefer specialized centers to those found in service stations or supermarkets.
There are over 9 million passenger cars and 6.5 million commercial vehicles on the road.
Around 35% of users visit a carwash at least once a month, while the majority make only 3 to 6 visits a year.
The market is segmented into high-pressure, roller and ecological car washes, with high-pressure washing accounting for almost half of the market.
High-pressure washing is the first choice of French motorists, accounting for almost 50% of the market. High-pressure car washes offer cleaning programs costing between €4 and €10.
Roller washing is faster and costs between 5 and 15 euros.
Ecological washing methods are gaining ground, combining minimal water use with natural cleaning agents. Although the price of these services is higher (between 30 and 120 euros).
The French carwash market is strongly influenced by weather conditions, from unexpected snowfalls to Saharan sand dust deposits.
The market is home to both independent operators, who need to make substantial investments, and franchises, which are expanding thanks to lower initial investments and strong brands.
Carwash players
- Éléphant Bleu leader of the European carwash market.
- WashTec : World leader with over 1,800 employees and a distribution network supporting 40,000 installations in 80 countries.
- Ecolave: Specialized in ecological car washes.
- CosmétiCar combines the convenience of mobile services with environmentally-friendly practices.
- Autobella offers automated tunnels, manual cleaning and specialized treatments
- OKI: French manufacturer of car washes, with over 1,000 stations installed
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of study
Car washes, a key segment of the car care market, have become indispensable to motorists, particularly in France. This market includes a variety of wash solutions, such as automatic washes with rollers, high-pressure washes, manual washes and the more recent waterless wash.
The global carwash market has been growing over the past decade, and this trend is set to continue over the next few years, with an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.40% to 2029. Europe accounts for just under a quarter of this market, which is largely dominated by North America with a 50% share due to its strong automotive culture.
In 2023, the French light vehicle maintenance and repair market will continue to grow , doubling in volume compared to 2008, stimulated by the increase in the French car fleet, which will number almost 39 million vehicles in 2023. The carwash market in France is highly fragmented, with traditional leaders such as Total Wash and Eléphant Bleu continuing to dominate with their extensive networks. However, this dominance is increasingly being challenged by emerging franchises such as CosmétiCar, which specialize in more eco-friendly and innovative offerings.
The carwash market in France is increasingly focused on ecological and local solutions. There is strong demand for waterless carwash services, which respond to the growing environmental concerns of French consumers. At the same time, rising inflation in 2022 has forced motorists to look for more economical options, favoring self-service or high-pressure washes, often perceived as more affordable than detailing or full wash services. This trend reflects a shift in consumers' priorities, as they juggle their budgets with their desire to reduce the environmental impact of their choices.
1.2 World Market
Global car wash market World, ****-****, in $ Billions Source: ****
The size of the car wash market is estimated at USD **.** billion in **** and is expected to reach USD **.* billion by ****, at a CAGR of *.**% during the forecast period (***).
Percentage of service stations with car washes United Kingdom, ****, in Source: ****
This diagram ...
1.3 A growing national market
Estimated size of the light vehicle maintenance and repair market France, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****
The graph shows strong growth in the light vehicle maintenance and repair market in France between **** and ****.
In ****, the market size was **.* billion euros, rising to **.** billion euros by ****. This represents an increase of ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 French car fleet
All passenger cars France, ****-****, in millions Source: ****
The number of cars on the road in France has risen from **.** million in **** to **.** million in ****. With this increase, there are more cars to wash, which is good news for carwashes. More cars means more potential customers, whether for a quick wash, ...
2.2 French washing habits
What are the washing habits of the French? France, ****, as a % Source: ****
The graph shows that **% of French people prefer to wash their car outside by a professional, while **% opt for a home wash.
A further **% go to a professional specifically for interior cleaning[***]. The majority of French people prefer professional ...
2.3 The cyclical nature of the carwash market
Evolution of the "car wash" search on Google France, ****-****, Source: ****
The graph shows a clear cyclical pattern in Google searches for "station de lavage automobile" in France, with marked peaks each year in January and late August. These peaks correspond to the pre-spring and autumn periods , when motorists are looking ...
2.4 France's favourite carwash brands
Comparison of the level of appreciation of * carwash brands according to age category France, ****, as a % Source: ****
The graph shows thatÉléphant Bleu is the carwash brand most appreciated by all age groups, with a peak of **.*% among **-** year-olds, and strong support also among the over-**s (***), with only ...
2.5 Eco-responsible cleaning, a new trend
The summer of **** marked a turning point for the carwash market in France: **% of carwashes had to close due to drought, according to Mobilians. This disrupted washing habits, forcing consumers to explore greener alternatives.
In response, companies like Meetwashing, which connects independent"washeurs" with corporate fleets, have seen their business grow ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Value chain
Value chain:
Suppliers of equipment and chemicals: They produce the washing machines and products needed for car washes.(***)
Carwash designers and installers: They design and build carwashes, installing machines and systems(***)
Carwash Operators: They manage carwashes, whether as franchisees or independents.
Product and Service Distributors: They sell wash and maintenance products ...
3.2 Volume and geographical breakdown of companies and employees
Number of companies in the light vehicle maintenance and repair sector France, ****-****, in thousands Source: ****
This graph shows a steady increase in the number of companies in the light motor vehicle maintenance and repair sector in France between **** and ****. The number of businesses rose from **.* thousand in **** to **.* thousand in ...
3.3 The different carwash franchises
The table clearly shows the dominance of Total Wash with *,*** outlets, representing around **% of the carwash franchise market in France, i.e. almost *.* times more than Elephant Bleu, the second largest player with *** outlets. Together, these two leaders account for around **% of the total number of franchises listed here, underlining their ...
3.4 Focus on 4 French franchises
The table highlights the diversity of investments required to launch a carwash franchise in France.
For example, Éléphant Bleu requires a personal contribution of €**,*** for a total investment of €***,***.but promises projected sales of €***,*** excluding VAT after two years, demonstrating a certain stability of profitability.
DétailCar, on the other ...
3.5 The profitability of a carwash
A carwash franchise can be a profitable business, but its profitability depends on effective cost management and strategic location.
On average, a carwash generates sales of around ***,*** euros a year. This figure can vary according to location, the type of services offered (***), and customer volume. To assess profitability, it's crucial to ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Offer typology
The carwash market is characterized by a diversity of services that can be classified into * categories:
Automatic carwash (***):
Automatic carwashes include stations equipped with gantry cranes with rollers and tunnels. These systems enable complete vehicle washing without human intervention. Customers simply drive their car through the gantries or tunnels, where rollers ...
4.2 Washing prices
Prices for car washes vary according to the type of service: high-pressure washing is the most affordable at €*, while the more meticulous or environmentally-friendly manual or waterless wash climbs to €** and €**, respectively.
Source: ****
4.3 Waterless washing
Waterless car washing is becoming increasingly popular in France, as it offers an ecological and practical solution to traditional car washing methods.
Unlike roller or high-pressure washing, which can use up to *** to *** liters of water per vehicle, waterless washing completely eliminates this consumption by using specific products, often plant- and ...
4.4 Detailing
Automotive detailing is emerging as a key segment of the car care industry.
More than just a simple cleaning, it's an in-depth treatment that goes beyond conventional car washes to restore, protect and enhance every detail of a vehicle. This market is experiencing significant growth, thanks in particular to the growing ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Current regulations
Ban on home washing:
Washing your car at home using large quantities of water is prohibited because of the risk of pollution from wastewater, which may contain oils, detergents and heavy metals. According to article L***-* of the French Environment Code, washing a car at home can result in a ...
5.2 Future regulations
Possible classification as a facility classified for environmental protection:
Although car washes are not always explicitly mentioned in the ICPE nomenclature, some may be classified under heading ****, which concerns vehicle repair and maintenance workshops. They may be classified as ICPE if they exceed certain thresholds for the use of chemicals, or ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Player segmentation
- Total Wash
- Wash Tech
- Lavance
- Ecolave
- Cosmeticar
- Robowash
- Eléphant Bleu
- Oki Clean
List of charts presented in this market study
- French car fleet breakdown
- Passenger car set
- Age of French passenger cars
- Breakdown of automobiles between professionals and private individuals
- What are the washing habits of the French?
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Latest news
Car washes face drought - 15/03/2023
Key figures
- - 11,000 independent centers for all brands (excluding supermarkets and service stations)
- - 12,500 jobs, 90% of them very small businesses
- - 134 million professional car washes per year
- - 98 million unauthorized hose washes at home
- - 2% of stations equipped with a water reuse system
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The carwash market | France
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