The list is issued annually with the aim of encouraging buyers to turn to models that emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases blamed for global warming.

Only a handful of Priuses and Lupos were sold in France last year, the agency said.

It added that it regretted rising sales of large saloons (sedans) and four-wheeled drive vehicles, which are the least energy efficient cars and emit the most pollution.

SPACE.WIRE