As France faces a 2035 deadline to phase out new combustion engine cars, workers in the industry worry their days might be numbered too. While there is plenty of optimism in certain regions of France, particularly in the north where a “Battery Valley” is emerging, workers at parts suppliers elsewhere are pessimistic. With the sale of new cars with petrol and diesel engines allowed for only the next decade in Europe, the industry that employs 200,000 people in France faces a forced march to change.

Bernard Jullien, an economist and researcher who specializes in the French car industry, estimates that job losses from shifting away from petroleum-fueled engines could reach 40,000 over the next 10 to 15 years in the auto parts sector. However, the impact may be reduced by the fact that many workers in the industry are nearing retirement. While some regions invest in battery gigafactories, challenges persist for parts suppliers elsewhere. The transition to electric vehicles presents both opportunities and risks for the French car industry, and stakeholders must navigate this transformation thoughtfully