The findings of INSEE are stark. Between 2010 and 2023, the workforce in the French automotive industry declined by 33%. Employment fell from 425,500 to 286,800 full-time equivalents, representing a loss of nearly 139,000 jobs.
This study, the first to map all industrial production related to the automotive sector, highlights a clear lag compared to the rest of industry. Excluding the automotive sector, industrial employment remained virtually stable over the period, with a decline limited to 1%.
Manufacturers and suppliers in retreat
Car manufacturers were on the front line. Their workforce in France plummeted by 35%, from 131,400 to 85,400 employees. Nearly 46,000 jobs were lost. The strategic choices of groups like Renault and Stellantis, which expanded their production capacity in Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Morocco, played a significant role.
The decline also affected suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and component producers. Their workforce shrank by 31,5%, from 294,100 to 201,400 jobs, representing a loss of nearly 93,000 positions. While direct relocations remained limited, suppliers followed manufacturers’ production sites, exporting more to the countries where the factories were established.
Since 2023, the contraction has accelerated with announcements of site closures at groups such as Michelin, Valeo, Forvia or Bosch.
A shock that goes beyond the industry.
The study also shows the knock-on effect on partner industries. Rubber and plastics manufacturers working for the automotive sector lost 43% of their workforce, while those outside the automotive sector saw a decline of only 3%. The same disparity is observed in metallurgy, metal products, and chemicals.
Overall, the share of the automotive sector in French industrial employment fell to 9,2% in 2023.
At this stage, INSEE has not observed a significant impact from the transition to electric vehicles. Three-quarters of suppliers already produce for these new models, while a minority depend exclusively on internal combustion engines. The only segment experiencing notable growth is that of batteries, where employment is increasing.
Nevertheless, the overall trend reflects a profound transformation of the French industrial landscape. Fewer factories, fewer employees, and increased dependence on globalized production chains. For a sector long considered a pillar of the national economy, the break is clear.
