France

France is the 10^th global economy with over $ 2.214 trillion GDP (purchasing power parity) in 2011. It is Founder Member of European Community. The per capita income of $ 35.000 (2011) is above EU average ($34.000) and is one of the highest in the world (35^th). France population of 65 million people welcomes any year more than 75 million foreign tourists. Indeed France is the most visited country in the world.

Nowadays the country is facing a difficult economic situation, with a GDP positive in 2011 (+1.7%) thanks to high Government Budget deficit (5.8% in 2011) policy that increased the Public Debt ratio on GDP from 68% in 2008 to 85% in 2011.  Unemployment ratio at 9.1 (2011) is still high and the austerity measures recently taken to reform pension system,  eliminate tax credits and freeze most government spending  can be not enough to achieve the Euro Area target of Budget deficit under the 3% by 2013.

The Automotive Industry born in France. In 1769, Nicolas J. Cugnot invented the first self-propelled vehicle – a steam driven contraption - called “a fardier à vapeur”. And century later, Monsier Etienne Lenoir was the first to develop an internal combustion engine. The creation in 1894 of De Dion-Bouton et Cie laid the foundation of the French auto industry. In France it was issued the first automobile license plates in 1893. The automotive sector had always been a key driver of the French economy, with a Production record achieved in 2004 at 3.666.000 car produced. However globalization effects are reducing France relevance and in 2011 the production was at 2 million, 3rd in Europe and 11th globally. PSA and Renault Groups produced in France  only the 31.1% of their global 6.4 million vehicles.