Car sales (electric or thermal) are biased by rigged figures. In question: tactical sale, as Numerama reveals with an analysis of the figures in May.
The paper published through this weekend Numerama Has the merit, with recent examples, to remember how the European car industry sinks in an increasingly opaque spiral around sales figures. The phenomenon is no longer limited to Chinese SUVs or brands in difficulties: it now influences the entire market.
Tactical sale: what is
The observation? More and more electric vehicles (and not only) are today Pre -Ommatic By distribution networks (the dealers) itself, without a real end customer. We call it tactical sale.
Objective: artificially blow the statistics to display flattering commercial performance. A necessary when the stock market, analysts and competitors investigate with the magnifying glass every quarter.
To continue
“The trend has something to worry about”: why explode tactical sale of cars
The examples cited by Numerama are constructive. In May 2025, no less than 69 % of Citroën Ben-C3 registered were rental companies in the short term: from 1,211 registered units, 1,037 left in the fleetsAgainst only 174 real sales to private individuals.
The same diagram for the new Citroën and ë-c3 aircross, fourth sale of the month: 86 % of its 920 registrations Again concerns the rental companies, which were even served before private customers. An ever -assumed bias due to certain networks to artificially speed up the launch curve of a model.
All manufacturers (or almost) affected
The case of BYD that we had documented about Fandroid in the last few days, with many suspicions around the sale in China, is really only the tree that hides the forest. As explained NumeramaRenault, Peugeot, MG and many others use it today to sell tacticWith a dizzying curve effect. Result: an increasing stock of vehicles D’Angound 0 kmOffered at broken prices a few weeks after their administrative registration.
Tesla defends herself, and indeed, there is not really tactical sale in the California manufacturer. Except for some copies of Model X, intended for concessions.
The risk of tactical sale
It is a dangerous game. These practices not only feed a sneaking deflation on the electric market, but they also deteriorate the residual value of cars, an important element for leasing. Finally, they contribute to a total jamming of real indicators for the acceptance of electric mobility in Europe, as we have still written.
Because behind these parts bloatedThe reality on site is more opposite each other. Many customers, always concern the costs of electricity or the availability of fast terminals, still hesitate to take the leap. However, do not forget that an electric car finally costs less than its thermal equivalent by taking into account the operating costs, with much more affordable costs for electric than gasoline or diesel.
And during this time the manufacturers maintain the illusion of continuing growth, while the prize in price (and therefore the fall in their margin, could represent a financial risk) through these internal mechanisms.
A blessing for consumers
The phenomenon also requires the methods used by consultancy firms and federations for the WHERE Weight of electricity in new sales. It would be high time for European authorities to impose more transparency on these figures and finally to distinguish registrations with an end customer of those of tactical sales or internal fleets.
In the meantime, for informed buyers, this, this one faux volumes A blessing remains: it is now possible to find almost new models with a few thousand euros in a discount, as understood by the distributors. But for the readability of the market and the sincerity of the public debate about the energy transition, it is a very bad signal.
