A group of trade unions and environmental organizations in France is pushing for a change in the country's automotive policy, focusing on the local production of small, affordable, and energy-efficient electric vehicles. This collective includes major trade unions such as CFDT and CGT, as well as environmental groups like Transport & Environment, the Foundation for Nature and Man, and the Climate Action Network. On October 8, 2026, they called for a new industrial strategy for the automotive sector, ahead of the Paris Motor Show. Their goal is to encourage presidential candidates to sign their manifesto, which promotes a public industrial strategy that supports the production of electric vehicles tailored to the needs of the French public and the general interest. Pierre Leflaive, who oversees transport at the Climate Action Network, emphasized that reducing carbon emissions in the automotive sector can go hand in hand with preserving jobs. He pointed out that the current trend of producing large electric SUVs priced at 30,000 euros or more makes it difficult for many households to afford new cars, which in turn weakens the competitiveness of the automotive industry. Although some manufacturers have introduced more affordable models, such as the Renault Twingo e-Tech and Citroën ë-C3, which cost between 20,000 and 25,000 euros, the collective wants to see a stronger policy push to expand this movement. The Foundation for Nature and Man (FNH) has explored the possibility of creating an even more affordable electric vehicle priced under 15,000 euros. This would require significantly reducing the vehicle's weight, which would limit its range to 140 to 200 kilometers and its speed to 110 kilometers per hour. These specifications would make the vehicle suitable as a secondary car for many households. The FNH estimates that such vehicles could sell between 2.5 and 3 million units annually in the European Union, or about 20 percent of the automotive market. These light vehicles would use less electricity and less lithium during production, with the FNH calculating a potential reduction of 26 terawatt-hours of electricity and 6,000 tons of lithium per year in Europe compared to standard electric vehicles. This study supports the recommendations of the Agency for Ecological Transition, which encourages buyers to choose models with low energy consumption, as they offer the greatest environmental benefits and help reduce expenses related to vehicle price and recharging. The agency's new opinion, released on October 7, 2026, backs this approach. The collective of trade unions and associations rejects criticism of the European Union's electrification goals, calling them distractions from the real challenges facing the automotive industry. The EU has set strict limits on CO2 emissions, effectively banning internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, with penalties for manufacturers who fail to comply. Bastien Gebel from Transport & Environment noted that industry players surveyed by his association see the shift to electric vehicles as an opportunity. He emphasized the importance of continuing with the current electrification strategy, arguing that reversing these goals would not solve the industry's deeper problems and would undermine existing investments.