French small car sales improve in wake of new CO₂ taxes

While sales in other countries have mostly fallen in recent months, French car dealers are happy right now. With an overall first half of the year increase of 4.5 percent, small and mini cars have led the way with a 15 percent jump in France. Small cars now comprise nearly half of all new car sales and French brands Renault and Peugeot/ Citroen have grabbed 60 percent of that segment. The new French tax schemes add extra fees to vehicles that emit more CO ₂ while buyers of cleaner cars actually get money back. Buyers of cars that emit less than 130g/km of CO ₂ are eligible for rebates ranging from 200 Euros to 5,000 Euros for low or zero emissions vehicles. Cars that emit from 160g/km to 250g/km of CO ₂ face taxes of 200-2,600 Euros.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]