Why Do French Cars Have Poor Resale Value?

[OBennett]

The main reasons for the poor resale value of French cars are their low ownership volume and generally high prices. In 1992, a large number of French cars entered the Chinese automotive market, but they failed to adequately meet the needs of Chinese consumers and thus did not gain a foothold in the market. 1. The shortcomings of French cars are primarily due to design issues. Domestic consumers are not accustomed to the romantic design style of French cars, which, whether in terms of exterior design or interior space, do not hold a competitive edge among vehicles of the same class. This undoubtedly affects overall sales. 2. The two core components of French cars—the engine and transmission—use outdated technology. Some engines have been in use for many years and are still being utilized today. In terms of transmissions, while other automakers had long adopted 8AT transmissions, French cars only recently abandoned their long-used 4AT transmissions in favor of 6AT transmissions. The imperfect technological transition has resulted in French cars lacking an advantage in fuel efficiency.