The Motor Industry in France is facing a crisis point. Statistics reveal that the production of cars in France is falling because sales inside France are falling; abroad the sales of "cars produced in France" are also falling.
For the last "ten" years the Governments in France have not realistically addressed this problem !!!
The cost of maintaining a car on the road in France has increased with relentless fervour. Beyond normal insurance and maintenance costs there are also other costs which motorists cannot control.
Prime examples are;
- Parking costs at key points in Town Centres, at Airports and Railway stations, etc.
- The general absence of any free parking areas
- The relentless increase of tariffs on Motorways
- The high "taxes" on Petrol for cars and lorries.
Added to the above problems is traffic congestion in large towns, particularly in Paris, where Public Transport and Taxis benefit from reserved traffic lanes.
The latest solution is to introduce electric cars for hire in Paris to encourage the production and sale of such cars. Not a bad idea except that this will probably encourage Parisiens to sell or abandon their petrol driven cars.
They have become an expensive burden in Paris rather than a real help or pleasure !!! Short term Hire Car costs would seem to be a better solution for the motorist, but this will not cover the lost production of cars in France.
When finally the motorist provides less income for the Government the next question really becomes "how will politicians then react" ?
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