Cars with the Crit’Air 1 sticker are very successful

With the tightening of ZFEs, sales of cars with the Crit’Air 1 sticker are on the rise, as are electric cars.

The automobile market is in crisis, and that’s an understatement to say. Several factors explain this situation, and changing and increasingly strict regulations have nothing to do with it, quite the contrary. However, if new car sales are in free fall, the market for used car in France showed notable resilience in 2024 with a total of 5,354,168 transactions recorded. Although down slightly from the 2019 peak when 5,800,000 vehicles changed hands, this figure remains close to the best historical levels, including those before the health crisis.

The Crit’Air 1 sticker seduces

However, not all cars sell equally well, on the contrary. And this is particularly the fault of the ZFEs (low emission zones), which have become more severe since January 1 in France. Thus, cars with the Crit’Air 3 sticker or higher are now prohibited from driving in several large cities, including Paris and Lyon. The latter find themselves faced with a drop in demand, because these cars, which have become less attractive, are now difficult to sell. A situation which takes place in a tense economic context, where the price of new cars is reaching new heights.

Thus, faced with these constraints, many buyers are turning to used vehicles that comply with ZFE environmental standards. Thus, less polluting models, in particular those displaying the Crit’Air 1 and 2 stickers, dominate transactions. THE Crit’Air 1which mainly bring together recent, low-emission vehicles, saw their popularity soar in 2024. Their transactions increased by 18%, representing 36% of the market. Conversely, the Crit’Air 2, although still popular with a market share of 34%, recorded a slight drop of 1%.

The rise of electric

But the real upheaval in the market lies in the spectacular progression of electric cars, equipped with the Crit’Air 0 sticker. These models saw their sales jump by 54% in 2024, reaching a market share of 2.5%, with a peak at 3% in December. Although this proportion remains modest, it reflects an underlying trend towards the electrification of the vehicle fleet. However, the high cost of electric cars remains a hindrance for many consumers. With an average price of 42,930 euros, up 3.7%, these models remain the most expensive on the second-hand market.

This high price highlights a persistent imbalance between supply and demand. This market dynamic reflects a broader context of ecological and economic transition. As governments tighten environmental restrictions, buyers must navigate an increasingly complex second-hand market. For motorists living in ZFEs, acquiring a vehicle compatible with the rules in force becomes an often constrained but necessary choice.

Furthermore, the disparities between metropolises make it even more difficult to understand the rules, which could deter some potential buyers.