French Automotive Industry: Renault, Stellantis & the Electric Transition
France has been making cars since the 1890s — Panhard & Levassor, Peugeot, and Renault were among the world's first manufacturers. Today, the French automotive industry employs approximately 200,000 people directly (800,000 including suppliers), produces roughly 1.5 million vehicles annually in France, and is navigating the most disruptive transition in its 130-year history: the shift from internal combustion to electric.
The industry is dominated by two groups:
- Renault Group — Renault, Dacia, Alpine. French-headquartered. Part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
- Stellantis — Formed in 2021 from the merger of PSA (Peugeot-Citroën-DS-Opel) and FCA (Fiat-Chrysler). Headquartered in Amsterdam but operationally centred in Paris. French brands: Peugeot, Citroën, DS.
The Major Players
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