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Summary of our market study
The French market for licence-free vehicles is worth around 400 million euros.
Since 2020, the French licence-free car market, also known as the "voiturette" or "VSP" market, has experienced significant growth, with new vehicle registrations rising sharply. This growth is largely due to the arrival of Citroën and its Ami model, which quickly established itself on the market.
The country is at the forefront of this market segment, accounting for more than half of all European registrations. The number of new VSP registrations is around 26,500.
This explosion in demand, which has doubled, comes from a younger, urban demographic, which differs from the traditional profile of retirees and rural buyers of the past. The minimum driving age for these vehicles was lowered to 14 in 2018. The average price of a vehicle is 15,000 euros.
The undisputed market leader is Aixam, followed by the Ligier group, which offers the Ligier and Microcar brands, and Citroën.
The French car fleet is aging, with the average vehicle around 9.4 years old. Urban microcars have risen from 2% to 6% of the fleet in the space of twenty years.
The number of driving license holders among young people is falling, with only 69% of 18-24 year-olds holding a driving license in 2022, compared with 77% twenty years ago. The introduction of electric vehicles offers significant potential in the sector.
European Directive 168/2013 mainly governs the manufacture and use of these vehicles, setting standards for vehicle weight and power, speed limits and driving license requirements.
Players in the French licence-free car market
- Aixam: Market leader in France and even in Europe, Aixam has secured a solid position in the licence-free car sector.
- Groupe Ligier: a pillar of the PSV market with two renowned brands under its umbrella: Ligier and Microcar.
- Stellantis (Citroën): A relative newcomer to the PSV market, Stellantis, via its Citroën brand, has made an entry with the Citroën Ami.
- Renault, known for its Twizy, now discontinued, but set to make a comeback with the Mobilize Duo.
- Chatenet and Bellier Automobiles contribute to the diversity of the market with their unique offerings.
- Other market players include Italy's Casalini and Tezzari, and China's Jiayuanson.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and presentation
The licence-free car market in France covers all economic activity relating to the production and sale of licence-free cars. Also known as voiturettes, quadricycles légers or VSPs, these are light vehicles with a speed limit of 45 km/hour that can be driven with just an AM license.
In 2021, France accounted for more than 50% of all licence-free car registrations in Europe, making it by far the leading European market. The French market is indeed experiencing an upward trend at the moment, as shown by the growth in the number of new VSP registrations in 2023 (+96% on 2019). This growth is driven not only by a new, young, urban clientele (whereas until the 1990s, buyers tended to be retired and rural), but also by growing interest in electric models.
The French market leader is Aixam, followed by the SME Ligier Group, which sells the Ligier and Microcar brands. Since 2020, these two historic players have been facing competition from a new entrant to the market, Citroën, whose license-free Ami model has been a runaway success. However, the market is still competitive, and there are a number of other players.
1.2 Global and European markets
Worldwide market
There are no worldwide data specifically for the "no-license" market, which is a type of vehicle that exists only in Europe. There are, however, data for the "mini-car" market, which encompasses Europe's licence-free cars, but especially ultra-compact car models such as the Fiat *** and Abarth. The minicar market was ...
1.3 Strong growth in the French market
Since recently, the French market for licence-free cars has been growing strongly. Indeed, the number of carts sold between **** and **** has almost doubled, rising from **,*** to **,***[***], with **,*** vehicles sold in * years .
There are two main reasons for this leap in sales volume:
the dazzling success of the Citroën Ami, which ...
1.4 Foreign trade in cars
The customs product nomenclature does not allow us to analyze foreign trade in license-free cars alone. It does, however, allow us to study the trade balance for code ****: "Passenger cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of less than ** persons", providing a clearer picture of trade in this ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 The French car fleet
The proportion of motorized households in France has increased slightly over the last decade. Indeed, while the proportion of households owning at least one vehicle in **** was **.*%, this proportion will reach **.*% in ****, one of the highest rates ever recorded. According to the ONISR, the * main reasons given by non-motorized households for ...
2.2 Unlicensed car registrations
After a drop in the number of new vehicles sold between **** and **** (***), the number of small car registrations remained stable between **** and ****. However, since ****, the market has seen strong growth. Indeed, new small car registrations rose by **% in **** compared to ****. In ****, growth accelerated, with new PSV registrations up **% on ****, despite a ...
2.3 Obtaining and losing a license: two major determinants of demand
Obtaining a license
Obtaining a license is an important determinant of demand, insofar as the lower the number of licenses issued, the greater the potential customer base for licence-free cars.
The graph below shows the evolution of the number of permits issued by category between **** and ****:
The number of B permits ...
2.4 Young people, the new target group for manufacturers of licence-free cars
Since the law lowered the age limit for driving without a license (***), the market for cars without a license has seen its audience get younger[***].
As proof, according to Marie-Laure Nivot, Market Intelligence Manager at AAA Data, registrations for small cars among teenagers (***) are increasing by *% per year. According to this ...
2.5 Electricity and car-sharing, the future of PSV demand?
The electric motorization of vehicles is a fundamental trend that is set to profoundly change the landscape of the automotive industry, both globally and nationally, over the next decade. However, if we look at consumers' intentions, only around a third intend to buy an electric vehicle in the next few years ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Sector value chain
Below is a simplified value chain for the licence-free car market:
Source: ****
Manufacturers (***) are the players in the first and fourth stages of the above value chain. It is they who design the vehicles in the design office, and assemble the parts. However, the manufacture of components and parts is for ...
3.2 The main manufacturers on the market are French
The three manufacturers selling the most small cars in France are French. In fact, in ****, Aixam (***) will dominate the market. note that Ligier sales also include those of the Microcar brand, which Ligier acquired in ****. Citroën completes the podium with **** models sold. It's interesting to note that while Citroën ...
3.3 Production and distribution
Two types of player can be distinguished in the licence-free car market:
Specialized players (***), producing only licence-free cars and favoring"made in France" production. Major generalist automotive groups (***), who have diversified their offer to reach new customers. The latter prefer to outsource production. Renault withdrew from the market after production of ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Offer typology
The table below shows a comparison of several models distributed by different manufacturers. We can see that there are often two types of offer: buying the vehicle or leasing it. Unsurprisingly, electric versions are also more expensive.
We can also point to the move upmarket and diversification of the range, with ...
4.2 Supply trends: Rising prices, upscaling, vehicle electrification and car-sharing
Rising prices and a move upmarket
The price of licence-free cars is tending to rise. Indeed, some models are more expensive (***)[***] Secondly, the licence-free car market, like that of the automotive industry as a whole, is also affected by rising raw material prices and the semiconductor crisis, which is leading to ...
5 Regulations
5. Regulations
The French market for licence-free cars is mainly governed by European Directive ***/****. The main legislation concerning the vehicle itself is listed below (***):
Unladen weight limited to *** kg Diesel or electric engine limited to * kW Speed must be less than ** km/h Engine capacity must be less than ** cm³. Number of seats ...
6 Positioning the players
6. Segmentation
- Bellier Automobiles
- Chatenet
- Aixam
- Ligier Groupe
- Casalini
- Jiayuan
- Microlino
- Kate.tech-Nosmoke
- Voltandgo
- Navya
- Liberty Electric Motion LEM
List of charts presented in this market study
- Global mini-car market size
- Worldwide sales of minicars by engine type
- Change in the proportion of households owning one or more vehicles
- Evolution of the weight of range levels in the passenger car fleet
- Number of new license-free car registrations
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Latest news
Microlino enters the booming microcar market - 07/09/2023
- Prices for small license-free vehicles, diesel and especially electric: from 8,000 to 20,000 euros.
- Sales of licence-free cars in France ten years ago: between 10,000 and 12,000 a year; today: around 20,000 a year.
- Microlino price: between 18,000 and 23,000 euros.
- Microlino production: 100 units per week
- Orders for the Citroën Ami in three years: 37,000. Price of the Citroën Ami: between 7,990 and 10,490 euros.
- Ligier electric vehicle prices: from 13,000 to 17,000 euros.
- Aixam vehicles: from 17,000 to 20,000 euros.
Licence-free vehicles: Aixam-Mega invests 30 million euros to double production - 30/08/2023
Aixam-Mega invests 30 million euros to double production capacity by 2025. Aixam-Mega plans to sell around 3,000 electric license-free vehicles by 2023. Increase in the number of vehicles sold by Aixam-Mega: 16,100 in 2021, 18,300 in 2022, 19,500 in 2023. Aixam-Mega sales target: between 25,000 and 30,000 vehicles by 2025. Aixam-Mega is the European leader in this market.
Aixam-Mega doubles its production capacity - 22/05/2023
- Aixam-Mega is the national market leader for licence-free vehicles.
- Construction of three production sites in the Drôme region to increase production capacity.
- Annual production capacity estimated at 30,000 vehicles after expansion.
- Investment of over 20 million euros in the three production units
- Estimated sales of 19,500 vehicles in 2021 and 18,300 vehicles in 2020 (including 7% LCVs).
- Sales in 2020: 200 million euros.
- Workforce: 300 employees.
- Entry into the electric vehicle market since 2003.
- Nearly half of sales to young customers.
Ligier unveils Myli, its 100% electric licence-free car - 07/05/2023
- European leader in licence-free cars: Ligier Group
- Ligier's first electric model: Myli, available in May Myli range: between 63 and 192 km
- Myli price: between 12,500 and 17,100 euros
- Number of licence-free car registrations in France in 2022: 22,500
- Number of license-free car registrations in France in 2019: 13,400
- Ligier sales in 2022: 192 million euros (+9% year-on-year)
- Myli sales target for 2023: 2,000 units
- Myli production plant: Boufféré, Vendée
Ligier launches top-of-the-range electric licence-free car - 11/04/2023
- New electric model: Myli Entry-level price: 12,499 euros (excluding 900-euro bonus)
- Myli range: 65 to 192 kilometers
- Price for Myli's highest trim level: 18,799 euros
- French licence-free car registrations in 2019: 13,400, in 2020: 22,500
- Ligier production target: 40,000 vehicles a year within two years (compared with 30,000 today)
- myli production site: Boufféré, Vendée, France
- Number of Ligier employees: 420
- ligier sales in 2020: 192 million euros
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The market for licence-free cars | France
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