France to end sales of petrol, diesel vehicles by 2040

Paris : France will end sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 as part of an ambitious plan to meet its targets under the Paris climate accord, new Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot announced yesterday.

“We are announcing an end to the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040,” Hulot said, calling it a “veritable revolution”.

Hulot acknowledged that reaching the goal would be “tough”, particularly for automakers, but said that French carmakers Peugeot-Citroen and Renault were well equipped to make the
switch.

France is the biggest manufacturer of electric cars sold in Europe, with the Renault Zoe far outselling other models in 2016.