March 2025 Mobility & Consumption Minute: carmakers gain breathing room as e-commerce hits a record
Every month, the Mobility Minute and the Consumption Minute explore two major trends transforming consumer behaviour in France and across Europe.
Presented by Flavien Neuvy, economist and Director of the Cetelem Observatory, these two analyses provide a one-minute overview of the developments shaping the mobility and consumer markets.
In March 2025, two developments stand out:
- The European Commission has given carmakers more time to meet their CO2 targets;
- French e-commerce reached €175 billion, with growth this time driven by transaction volumes rather than inflation.
Mobility Minute: more time for European carmakers
In early March, the European Commission announced greater flexibility in the application of CO2 targets for car manufacturers.
Carmakers that had been expected to meet particularly demanding targets from 2025 will now have a three-year period over which to achieve compliance.
The underlying issue is largely mathematical.
Meeting the target would have required electric vehicles to account for around 25% of new-car sales in 2025.
Demand has not yet reached that level.
What you need to know
– the European Commission announced the change in early March 2025
– car manufacturers were given a three-year compliance window for the CO2 targets
– electric vehicles would have needed to represent around 25% of sales in 2025 to meet the initial trajectory
– failure to meet the targets could have resulted in fines amounting to billions of euros
– European new-car sales volumes remain below their 2019 level
– environmental organisations argue that greater flexibility could result in higher CO2 emissions
To understand why the original target was proving difficult to reach and what this adjustment could mean for the next phase of the transition:
👉 Discover the full analysis on the Cetelem Observatory
Find out about the latest Auto 2025 study by l’Observatoire Cetelem
In 2011, l’Observatoire Cetelem de l’Automobile took an interest in the under-30s, then called the “Generation Y”.
Nearly 15 years later, it looks at Generation Z, who succeeded them, in a new study that evaluates their relationship with the automobile in a context of market downturn, slowing inflation and debates on the transition to electric.
Carried out in 14 countries, among 16,000 people, the study by l’Observatoire de l’Auto 2025 is rich in lessons.
Consumption Minute: who will actually pay US tariffs?
According to figures published by FEVAD, online sales in France reached €175 billion in 2024, an increase of 10%.
One detail makes this growth particularly significant compared with previous years:
the increase was driven by a 10% rise in the number of transactions rather than primarily by inflation.
Consumers are not simply paying more.
They are buying online more often.
What you need to know
– €175 billion in online sales in 2024, up 10%
– growth driven by a 10% increase in transaction volumes, rather than higher prices
– €67 billion in online product sales
– €108 billion in online services, up 12%
– travel is among the most dynamic online segments
To understand what the growing importance of services reveals about consumer priorities:
👉 Discover the full analysis on the Cetelem Observatory
Find out about l’Observatoire Cetelem new 2025 consumer study
In 2023, the Cetelem Consumer Observatory took an interest in the low-cost market and its extension. Today, we look at the evolution of consumption in France, which is very different from that of a few years ago. If you want to dig a little deeper into the subject, discover the complete European study by the Cetelem Observatory on consumption in 2025
Two issues, one question of purchasing power
On one side is a reform that enabled millions of people in France to travel at a lower cost.
On the other is a trade measure that can increase the prices paid by American households.
In both cases, the underlying issue is the same: how public policy affects household purchasing power.
One reform widened access through greater competition.
The other creates a barrier that can make imported products more expensive.
FAQ – March 2025 Mobility & Consumption Minute
- What did the European Commission decide on automotive CO2 targets? In early March 2025, the Commission announced greater flexibility by giving manufacturers a three-year period over which to meet CO2 targets that had initially applied from 2025.
- What share of new-car sales would electric vehicles have needed to reach?
Around 25% of new-car sales in 2025, significantly above the level of demand observed at the time. - What financial risk did car manufacturers face?
Failure to comply with the CO2 targets could have resulted in fines amounting to several billion euros. - How large is the French e-commerce market?
Online sales reached €175 billion in 2024, an increase of 10%. - What drove French e-commerce growth in 2024?
The number of online transactions increased by 10%. Unlike in previous years, growth was therefore driven largely by higher volumes rather than rising prices. - Which online segments are growing fastest?
Online services grew by 12%, with travel among the most dynamic categories. - Where can the full analyses be found?
Both analyses are available on the Cetelem Observatory website, respectively in its Automotive and Consumption sections.
