French automakers disappointed with slow rebound post-Covid Robert Besser 04 Aug 2021, 17:54 GMT+10 The French auto market is not rebounding as quickly as hoped for, with blame being placed on the global chip shortage and a new surge in COVID-19 infections Car registrations in France fell to 1.65 million from 2.21 million in 2019 as the coronavirus pandemic brought car manufacturing to a standstill The shortage of semiconductors, along with general uncertainty caused by the Covid pandemic, are impacting automakers, including Renault and Franco-Italian Stellantis PARIS, France: The French auto market is not rebounding as quickly as hoped for, with blame being placed on the global chip shortage and a new surge in COVID-19 infections, according to the auto manufacturers' lobbying group CCFA-PFA.