French car registrations swung back into positive territory in May 2026, rising 3.7% year-on-year, according to data updated on 2 June 2026. The move marks a notable turnaround from April 2026, when registrations had fallen 0.3% compared with the same month a year earlier.
The figures are based on a year-over-year comparison, with the current reading reflecting the change in registrations in May 2026 versus May 2025, while the previous reading measured April 2026 against April 2025. The shift from a slight contraction in April to solid growth in May suggests a stabilisation in demand in the French auto market after a weaker start to the spring.
