France-Guide: Promotion for light vehicles 2026

The French automotive market is undergoing radical change. While registration figures for purely electric cars are rising massively and will have already exceeded the one million vehicle mark by the end of 2023, the state has tightened the subsidy rules. Hybrid vehicles in particular are the big losers: since January 2023, there has no longer been a bonus écologique for them, and the scrappage premium (Prime à la Conversion) for hybrids was also completely canceled at the end of 2024.

For light electric vehicles (quadricycles électriques) in the L6e and L7e classes, however, a new, attractive form of funding is opening up: the CEE energy bonus.

The decisive advantage: no "score environnemental"

In contrast to large electric cars (class M1), which since 2024 have had to demonstrate a complex environmental score of at least 60 points in order to be eligible, this does not apply to light vehicles.

• Simple criteria: It is sufficient for quadricycles to be purely electrically powered.

• No origin hurdles: While the Environnemental score often excludes vehicles from non-European production, access to funding for light vehicles remains unbureaucratic.

The new subsidy structure: CEE premiums

Instead of the classic state bonus, the CEE premium for light electric vehicles, which is financed via the system of energy saving certificates (CEE), is now increasingly coming to the fore.

1. support for private individuals

Private individuals who buy or lease a light electric vehicle can receive a premium, which is granted regardless of income.

• Subsidy amount: Up to € 437 is possible as a CEE premium for the purchase of a Quadricycle.

• Additional options: Regional aid (e.g. in ZFE environmental zones such as Greater Paris) can be added under certain conditions.

2. support for companies

The purchase is particularly attractive for companies, as they can often call up higher lump sums via the CEE system.

• Subsidy amount: Companies receive a premium of up to €1,000 for a light electric vehicle.

• Tax benefits: While hybrids will be fully taxed for CO2 emissions from 2025 and lose their exemption from company car tax (formerly TVS), pure electric light vehicles will continue to enjoy tax benefits

Market development: electric beats hybrid

The figures prove the success of this strategy: the market share of purely electric cars rose from under 3% in 2019 to 17% in 2023. At the same time, the diesel share plummeted to a historic low of just 9.4%. By July 2025, the number of all-electric cars in France had grown to 1.4 million vehicles.

Conclusion for buyers

Anyone who opts for a light electric vehicle in France avoids the strict quotas and complex scoring systems of the classic car bonus. The CEE bonus offers reliable financial support for urban mobility - both for private individuals and businesses looking for efficient solutions for the "last mile".

The ARI 458 Pro (in all body variants), which as a classic light vehicle benefits fully from the unbureaucratic CEE premium, offers suitable solutions for this. Equally attractive is the ARI 802 The compact electric car ensures companies receive the full subsidy without income checks or complicated origin hurdles, making it the ideal choice for commercial fleets.