June 2026 Mobility Minute & Consumption Minute: Electric car sales surge and theme parks continue to thrive

The June 2026 edition focuses on two major phenomena:

the surge in sales of fully electric cars in France and across Europe;
the growing success of theme parks, which have become a major part of leisure spending.

June 2026 Mobility Minute

Sales of fully electric cars rise by 81% in France

Sales of fully electric cars are accelerating dramatically in France.

In May 2026, they increased by 81% compared with May 2025. Over the first five months of the year, sales rose by 55%.

In May, electric vehicles accounted for 29% of the French automotive market. This is an all-time record, confirming the increasingly important role of electric powertrains in motorists’ purchasing decisions.

Watch the full analysis in the Mobility Minute below :

How are electric car sales evolving across Europe?

The growth in fully electric vehicles is not limited to France. The same trend can be seen across Europe’s major automotive markets.

The figures presented in the Mobility Minute show the following changes:

Italy: +73%;
Spain: +42%;
Germany: +41%;
United Kingdom: +22%;
Belgium: +1.1%.

Italy is leading the way, ahead of Spain and Germany. The United Kingdom is also recording significant growth, while the increase remains much more limited in Belgium.

This European momentum shows that the transition to electric mobility is accelerating, although the pace continues to vary considerably from one country to another.

Why are electric car sales increasing so sharply?

Two main factors help explain the growth in sales of fully electric cars.

1. Rising fuel prices

The sharp increase in fuel prices is encouraging many motorists to reconsider the overall cost of using their vehicle.

Although purchasing an electric car can still represent a significant investment, everyday use may help reduce certain energy and maintenance costs.

In this context, a growing number of consumers are considering electric vehicles as a way to achieve long-term savings.

2. A broader and more affordable electric vehicle range

Car manufacturers now offer a growing number of electric models.

For a long time, the market was largely focused on relatively expensive vehicles. Today, the range is expanding to include city cars and more financially accessible models.

This diversification is making electric vehicles available to a wider audience and is directly contributing to the increase in sales.

Key takeaways from the electric car market

In May 2026, sales of fully electric cars increased by 81% year on year in France. Their market share reached 29%, while cumulative growth since the beginning of the year stood at 55%.

This growth is mainly being driven by rising fuel prices and the arrival of new, more affordable electric models.

The June 2026 Consumption Minute

Why are theme parks so successful?

Theme park attendance has increased dramatically over the past several decades.

Over a forty-year period, the annual number of visitors in France has risen from 3 million to more than 70 million.

This development has turned theme parks into a genuine social phenomenon and one of the leading markets within leisure consumption.

Watch the full analysis in the Consumption Minute below :

Which theme parks attract the most visitors in France?

Disneyland Paris largely dominates the French market, welcoming more than 16 million visitors every year.

Behind the Disney group, three major parks each welcome around 3 million visitors annually:

Puy du Fou;
Parc Astérix;
Futuroscope.

These destinations benefit from strong national and international recognition. They regularly renew their attractions, shows and themed worlds to encourage visitors to return.

Regional theme parks are also performing strongly

The sector’s success is not limited to France’s largest theme parks.

Several regional parks also attract significant numbers of visitors. These include Walibi, Nigloland and Le PAL, which welcomes around 700,000 visitors each year.

Other destinations have developed more specialised themes. Vulcania, for example, offers an experience focused on volcanoes, science and natural phenomena.

This diversity allows leisure parks to meet a wide range of expectations, including thrilling rides, live shows, scientific discovery, cultural immersion and family outings.

Theme parks attract also a huge amount of visitors across Europe

The popularity of theme parks extends well beyond France.

Several major European parks welcome millions of visitors every year:

Europa-Park in Germany: around 6 million visitors;
Efteling in the Netherlands: around 6 million;
PortAventura in Spain: around 4 million;
Gardaland in Italy: around 3 million.

France nevertheless occupies a distinctive position thanks to Disneyland Paris and the diversity of its national and regional theme parks.

What explains the popularity of theme parks?

Two main reasons help explain their success.

1. Regular investment in new attractions

Theme parks invest significant amounts every year to renew and expand their offering.

New attractions, shows, immersive settings, themed hotels and technological innovations allow them to regularly introduce new experiences.

This strategy plays an essential role in building visitor loyalty. Visitors who discover a new attraction or themed world are more likely to return, even when they are already familiar with the park.

2. The desire to enjoy memorable experiences

The success of theme parks also reflects a deeper consumer aspiration: the desire to have fun and enjoy life.

Visitors do not come solely for the rides. They are looking for a complete experience to share with family or friends, as well as a temporary escape from everyday life.

As the Observatoire Cetelem has highlighted on several occasions, pleasure remains a key driver of consumer behaviour.

Key takeaways from the success of theme parks

French leisure parks now welcome more than 70 million visitors every year, compared with only 3 million forty years ago.

This growth is based on two key drivers: the continuous renewal of attractions and consumers’ search for pleasurable, emotional and shared experiences.