(FILES) Few hundred electric Autolib cars are parked at a car park in Romorantin-Lanthenay on November 10, 2018. More than a third of new cars sold in France in July were electric, illustrating the rapid growth of this type of powertrain, supported by public policies, in a market that is up 9% but still far from its pre-Covid levels. New vehicle sales rose by 9% year-on-year in July 2026, with 126,808 registrations, an increase linked to a favorable comparison effect with July 2025, "which was at a historic low," said a spokesperson for the Automotive Platform (PFA), which brings together manufacturers, equipment makers and suppliers in France. (Photo by GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP via Getty Images)