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4min
In France, the relationship to the car evolves. Some continue to buy, others go to lease or opt for the bicycle. Between costs, practicality and new habits, the French rethink their mobility and re -evaluate their way of moving on a daily basis.
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Dieppe, commune of Seine-Maritime, where more than 28,000 inhabitants live. This is where we went to meet you, in French eyes.
Camille Bienaimé is CPE, principal education advisor in a high school. Her car would be fine, but she has no choice but to move with it. She explains: “There, me, I really have no other possibility because the place of my establishment is not sufficiently served so that I can take public transport and the bicycle, for once, it's far too far.”
Her workplace is 15 km from her house, which represents a constraint. His car is expensive: around € 500 per year for maintenance, € 500 for petrol and € 502 for insurance. Or € 1,500 annual budget, multiplied by two cars in the home: almost € 3,000 per year. No question, for her and her husband, to buy a new vehicle despite the faults.
Today, the French report to their car has evolved. In a Peugeot dealership, director Pierre Alexandre notes a drop in purchases of new vehicles for the benefit of leasing. “They know that they leave the concession with a fixed budget for three years. And after three years, they renew their vehicle, either with a lower budget or with a higher budget, but they will always have a new vehicle.”
Some choose to buy. Valéry Jimonet has just acquired its second electric vehicle, an investment of 50,000 to 60,000 €. A high cost, but compensated according to him by savings in maintenance and fuel. “In 20 minutes, my full is over. € 22 for a range of 400 kilometers.”
Still others decide to abandon the car. Judicaël Gaspar, for example, went to the bicycle. Before, he spent almost € 4,000 per year on his vehicle. Today, its transport budget is almost zero: “With the bike, there may be a puncture, and again … It's almost zero maintenance. Which makes a little additional budget that I can present on leisure and good restaurants.”
Buy, rent or abandon your car, switch to electric or not … as many choices that we find in French eyes.
