France: Used Chinese Cars Sweep the Market with Sales Surging by 69%

After making significant waves in the new car market, Chinese manufacturers have begun to firmly establish their presence in France's used car market. According to a study by specialized platform Autoscout24, registrations of used vehicles from Chinese brands surged by 69% year-on-year in September, providing a breather for French residents seeking nearly-new cars at lower prices amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Growing Demand and Doubling Listings

The figures reflect strong interest among drivers in France; searches for Chinese models rose by 70% between the first half of 2025 and the first half of 2026. This was accompanied by a near-doubling of supply, as Autoscout24 recorded a 96% jump in the average number of published listings within a single year.

MG's Dominance and BYD's Record Rise

The MG brand, owned by China's SAIC Group and having entered the European market in 2020, dominates nearly three-quarters of Chinese used car sales in France, recording 2,389 sales in September alone (+72%). During the first nine months of the year, its total registrations reached 18,632 used vehicles (+77.1%), rivaling established brands such as Jeep (18,619 registrations) and Alfa Romeo (19,171 registrations in ten months), and outpacing major players like Cupra and Mitsubishi.

For its part, BYD achieved the most striking surge, registering 644 cars in September (+66.4%) and 5,954 units over nine months, representing an increase of nearly 150%. In contrast, other brands such as Lynk & Co remained stable with around 804 cars compared to 813 last year.

Nearly-New Cars and Competitive Prices

This expansion relies on offering very recent vehicles, mainly sourced from demo cars or expiring short-term lease contracts; the average age of listed models stands at 6 months for Xpeng, 7 months for Leapmotor, and 10 months for BYD. This has been accompanied by a noticeable drop in prices, with the average price of an MG car falling to €22,743 (-8%), BYD to €35,623 (-11.4%), and Xpeng to €50,713 (-11.7%).

Vincent Hancart, Managing Director of AutoScout24 France, explained that "the used market has become a new playground for Chinese manufacturers, as consumers are drawn to recent, well-equipped cars at competitive prices."

Strong Presence on Leboncoin

This shift is also confirmed by the Leboncoin platform. Although the total share of Chinese cars remains below 1% out of more than 800,000 listings, it has doubled in one year. Their strength is concentrated in clean powertrains, accounting for more than 3% of hybrid listings and over 5% of all-electric vehicles.

MG ranks 27th on the platform with around 4,600 listed cars (+25%), surpassing brands like Tesla and Honda. The platform also features around 1,000 cars from BYD (+118%), along with an influx of new listings for models such as Jaecoo (340 listings) and Xpeng (300 listings), reflecting a tangible shift in mobility choices and car buying across France.