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Car News from France

France built its industry on small cars and still does. Two groups cover almost all of it, and the French state is a shareholder in both.

8 articles · 6 brands

This page collects news about the French car industry: model launches, plants and ownership. France built its business on small cars and has not moved off it. The Clio, 208 and C3 are perennial fixtures near the top of European sales charts, and the electric versions of that class, the R5, e-C3 and e-208, were the first serious push to make affordable EVs in Europe rather than import them. France is also the second-largest car market in the EU after Germany. What it does less of is assembly: a lot of the volume shifted to Spain, Slovakia, Morocco and Turkey, and Dacia’s low-cost range is built in Romania and Morocco rather than at home.

Two groups cover almost all of it, and the French state is a shareholder in both: about 15% of Renault Group, its largest single stake, and about 6% of Stellantis through the public investment bank Bpifrance. Renault Group is Renault, Dacia and Alpine, and it sits inside the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, a cross-shareholding arrangement rather than a merger. Stellantis carries Peugeot, Citroën and the premium DS among its Italian, German, British and American badges, and is registered in the Netherlands. Bugatti builds at Molsheim in Alsace but has belonged to Bugatti Rimac, led from Croatia, since 2021. Full tree in Europe’s car brands.

Brands

Explainers

European car brands where the badge and the owner disagree

European car brands where the badge and the owner disagree

Twelve European badges whose nationality does not match their ownership: Cupra, Vauxhall, DS, Opel, Lancia, Alpine, Abarth, MG, Ebro, DR Automobiles, smart and Leapmotor. Some are Spanish or British names owned in Germany or the Netherlands, some are revived badges on Chinese hardware, and several are assembled in a third country again.

Europe's Car Brands: The Ownership Structure

Europe's Car Brands: The Ownership Structure

Most European badges trace back to about five mega-groups - Volkswagen, Stellantis, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Renault. But several beloved European brands are now owned abroad, in China, India and the UAE, and a few Chinese and joint-venture names now sell under European flags. Here is who owns what in 2026.

Japan's Car Brands: The Alliance Map

Japan's Car Brands: The Alliance Map

Japan's carmakers stay overwhelmingly Japanese-controlled, but the ownership lines are still tangled - Toyota holds minority stakes in three of its own rivals, and Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault are locked into a 25-year cross-shareholding pact that a 2025 Honda-Nissan merger attempt failed to simplify.

Frequently asked questions

Which car brands are French?

Renault, Dacia and Alpine sit inside Renault Group. Peugeot, Citroën and DS came from PSA and are now Stellantis brands. Bugatti is French by address, built at Molsheim in Alsace, but the company is part of Bugatti Rimac, a joint venture led from Croatia.

Does the French government own Renault?

It owns part of it. The state holds roughly 15% of Renault Group, which makes it the largest single shareholder, and it has used that position in past board decisions. It is a stake, not control. Bpifrance also holds about 6% of Stellantis.

Is Peugeot owned by Stellantis?

Yes. Peugeot was the core of PSA Group, which merged with Fiat Chrysler in 2021 to form Stellantis. Citroën, DS and Opel came across in the same merger. Stellantis is registered in the Netherlands, and the Peugeot family remains one of its larger shareholders.

News about France

DS brings back hydropneumatic suspension for a presidential N°7

DS brings back hydropneumatic suspension for a presidential N°7

DS Automobiles unveiled the N°7 Élysée, a long-wheelbase, armoured version of its electric SUV built for the President of France. It revives hydropneumatic suspension, tuned in France, on a car stretched by 250 mm and fitted out as a mobile office.

DS N°7 replaces DS 7 with 740 km range

DS N°7 replaces DS 7 with 740 km range

DS Automobiles unveiled the N°7, its new premium SUV and DS 7 successor, on Stellantis's STLA Medium platform. It comes as a mild hybrid or in three electric E-TENSE tiers, topping out at 740 km WLTP range, with European prices from EUR 43,900 (about $47,600).

Bugatti W16 Mistral Blanc Éternel: a farewell

Bugatti W16 Mistral Blanc Éternel: a farewell

Bugatti's Sur Mesure division and Berlin's KPM porcelain manufacturer have built the W16 Mistral Blanc Éternel, a single, porcelain-trimmed reinterpretation of the 2011 Veyron L'Or Blanc. It carries the 1,600 hp quad-turbo W16, one of the last cars built around the engine before Bugatti moves fully to the Tourbillon's V16.

Alpine and Lacoste team up on a race-ready A290 Rallye concept

Alpine and Lacoste team up on a race-ready A290 Rallye concept

Alpine has revealed the A290 Rallye x Lacoste - a one-off customer racing concept styled by the French sportswear brand, with 290 crocodile motifs, forged carbon bodywork, and a capsule clothing collection.

Renault Megane E-Tech Electric facelift: bigger LFP battery, 500 km range

Renault Megane E-Tech Electric facelift: bigger LFP battery, 500 km range

Renault's updated Megane E-Tech Electric switches to a 67 kWh LFP battery for up to 500 km WLTP and faster 165 kW charging, behind a redesigned front end. From about €37,000 (~$40,000) in France.

Peugeot E-208 GTi revealed: the GTi badge returns as a 280 hp electric hot hatch

Peugeot E-208 GTi revealed: the GTi badge returns as a 280 hp electric hot hatch

Peugeot has released the first official images of the production E-208 GTi, identical to its 2025 concept. On the eCMP platform with a 280 hp / 345 Nm front motor, 54 kWh battery, 350 km WLTP range and 0-100 km/h in 5.7 s. Ride height dropped 30 mm, front track widened 56 mm. Full technical details in a few days.

Stellantis and Dongfeng form European JV to build Voyah in France

Stellantis and Dongfeng form European JV to build Voyah in France

Stellantis and Dongfeng signed a memorandum to create a 51/49 European joint venture. Voyah vehicles will be assembled at the Citroën plant in Rennes, currently running below 25% capacity.

Renault 4 Plein Sud: Canvas-Roof R4 Opens Pre-Orders from €37,290

Renault 4 Plein Sud: Canvas-Roof R4 Opens Pre-Orders from €37,290

Pre-orders are open for the Renault 4 Plein Sud, a canvas-roof variant of the R4 E-Tech Electric. Electric roof actuator, 92×80 cm opening, same 52 kWh / 409 km WLTP powertrain, 420-litre boot unchanged. From €37,290.