Blog Auto Gova

The Peugeot 308 III enters its national Top 10 in January. Photo largus.fr

Update of 05/24/22: Now with the Top 150 models.

The year began on a negative note in France with a further fall in new car registrations of -18.6% year-on-year, to just 102,901 units. Gasoline sales plunge 31.5% to 38,752 units and represent 37.7% market share versus 44.8% last year, diesel implodes 41.1% to 18,868 units and represents 18.3% market share versus 25.3% in January 2021, HEVs rise 12,9 percent to 22,660 units and 22 percent market share from 15.9 percent last year, BEVs climb 57.9 percent to 10,217 units and 9.9 percent market share from 5.1 percent, and PHEVs drop 3.2 percent to 7,934 units and 7.7 percent market share from 6.5 percent.

Peugeot (-21.5%) is losing more ground than the market, but at 19.9% market share, it is back in first place, far ahead of Renault (-17%) at 15.2% market share. Citroën (-13.9%) is holding up well and is back above the symbolic 10% market share mark at 10.3%. Dacia (-34.5%) is in great difficulty with a comparison base from a year ago that involved the launch of the Sandero III. Toyota (-20.6%) is ahead of Volkswagen (-13.8%) for 5th place overall, while the two main Korean brands are once again surprising with year-on-year increases: Hyundai is up 13.2% to 7th place, and Kia up 6% to 8th place. Ford (-35.9%) and Opel (-13.8%) complete the Top 10. Unusually, no premium brand is in the Top 10, with BMW (-19.9%) falling to 11th place, Audi (-13.9%) to 12th place and Mercedes (-14.4%) to 14th place, down from 7th place in December and over the full year 2021. Mini (+33.7%) has the largest increase in the Top 25, at 13th place versus 19th for the year 2021, with MG (+344%), Mitsubishi (+144.6%), Alpine (+81.1%), Cupra (+74.6%) and Lexus (+19.4%) also up. Newcomer Lynk & Co. moved up five spots to a record 31.

Model-wise, the Peugeot 208 (-4.4%) is back up to 7.4% market share, its highest level since April 2019 (8.9%) which was impacted by Covid-19 dealer closures. The Renault Clio (-21.1%) and the Peugeot 2008 (-20.1%) follow as in December and over the year 2021. The Citroën C3 (-10.2%) resists and climbs one place to 4th place ahead of the Peugeot 3008 (-26.3%), which is in difficulty but has climbed two places to 5th place compared to last month. Below the Renault Captur (-18.6%) and Dacia Sandero (-51.3%), the Peugeot 308 III makes its first appearance in the French Top 10 in 8th place with 2.2% of market share. As for the Renault Arkana, it confirms the success of its launch by signing a third Top 10 at the 9th place. The Dacia Duster (+7.4%) completes the Top 10. Just below it, in 11th place, the Toyota Yaris Cross is the best-selling foreign vehicle (although manufactured in France), followed by the Ford Puma (15th) and the Mini Hatch (19th). The foreign leader for the year 2021, the Toyota Yaris (-75.7%) falls to 32nd place. The Dacia Spring loses one place and is now in 14th position.

Previous post: France Year 2021: Peugeot overtakes Renault for the 1st time since 1939, 208 best sales in a stable market (+0.5%).

One year ago: France January 2021: Dacia Sandero is the best-selling brand for the first time, market down -5.8%.

Top 50 all makes, Top 100 models and Top 10 BEV of January 2022 below.

The Dacia Sandero III grew by 34.6% in a market down 19.5%.

Update of 05/24/22: Now with the Top 150 models.

The French new car market suffered a 10th consecutive month of year-on-year decline, worsening to -19.5% and 147,079 units with the microchip crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war impacting supply. Removing March 2020, which was affected by the pandemic, this is the lowest March result since 1980. Sales are down -34.9% compared to March 2019 pre-pandemic. As a result, first quarter volume was down 17.3% to 365,360 sales. Gasoline sales are down -26.1% year-on-year to 57,444 units and 39.1% share from 42.5% a year ago, diesel implodes by -50.4% to 21,075 and 14.3% share from 23.3% in 2021, HEV is down -5% to 27,860 and 18.9% share from 16%, PHEV falls -16.5% to 11,690 and 7.9% share from 7.7%. On the other hand, BEVs are doing very well, with a 27.2% increase to 19,835 units and a 13.5% market share compared to 8.5% a year ago, even catching up with diesel registrations.

Peugeot (-33.6%) scored a third consecutive victory in the brand rankings, a remarkable performance since the end of the quarter had usually favored Renault (-30.4%), which remained in second place. Citroën (-27.8%) falls to 9.4% market share from 10% at the start of the year, followed by Dacia (+31.4%), which recorded by far the strongest year-on-year increase in the Top 10 – and Top 25. Volkswagen (-10.4 %) limited its fall, while Toyota (-20.2 %) followed the market more or less. Ford (-1.3%) is almost stable above Mercedes (-21.3%). Tesla (+7.1%) and Kia (+6.5%) close the Top 10 on a positive note. Below it, Hyundai (+1.9%) is the only manufacturer to move up in the Top 20, to 12th place, while DS (-0.1%) and Skoda (-6.9%) show single-digit declines. All other manufacturers in the Top 20 are falling faster than the market, with Mini (-31.4%) and Fiat (-27.6%) being the hardest hit. Among the smaller brands, MG (+282.6%), Bentley (+150%), Cupra (+113.9%) and Alpine (+67.6%) are impressive.

In terms of models, the Peugeot 208 (-21.5%) secured a fourth consecutive monthly victory and consolidated its leadership position since the beginning of the year with a 6% share. The Dacia Sandero (+34.6%) moved up four places from February to second place overall and fourth place year-to-date. The Citroën C3 (-16.8%) fell one place to third position. It overtook the Renault Clio (-37.3%) for the second consecutive month. The Renault Captur (-26.2%) moved up two places to 5th place and the Peugeot 308 III moved up four places to break its monthly ranking record at 6th place. The Tesla Model 3 (-14.2%) moves up two spots to #7, matching its all-time high ranking, also achieved last August and December, and by far the best-selling foreign model in the ranking. Note that the Model 3 is on the podium when only private sales are taken into account. The Peugeot 3008 (-29.6%) and 2008 (-54.3%) are struggling underneath while the Citroën C3 Aircross (+10.7%) is going against the market with a year-on-year increase to return to the Top 10 at #10. The Renault Arkana confirms its success, moving up to 11th place and 10th place year-to-date. The Ford Puma (+43%) makes a meteoric rise to take the 2nd foreign spot at #12, ahead of the Fiat 500 (-11.1%) at #14, the VW Polo (-5%) at #17 and the T-Roc (+2.6%) at #18. Among recent launches, below the 308 III and Arkana, the Dacia Spring ranks #19, the Toyota Yaris Cross #22, the Dacia Jogger #32 and the DS 4 #42.

Previous month: France February 2022: Market down -13%, Tesla in the Top 10, Citroën C3 in 2nd position.

One year ago: France March 2021: Peugeot wins for the 7th time in the last 8 months, Tesla Model 3 signs its first Top 10, market down -19.1% from two years ago.

Top 55 all makes and Top 150 models of March 2022 below.

The Peugeot 308 brand is on the French podium for the first time in more than 5 years. Photo largus.fr

Update 24/05: Now with the first 150 models

Note that the articles for November 2021, December 2021, full year 2021, January 2022, February 2022 and March 2022 have also been updated with a Top 150 models.

Update 11/05: Now with the Top 55 All Brands.

New car sales in France slipped for the 11th consecutive month in April, accelerating their decline to -22.6% and 108,723 registrations. Excluding the pandemic month of April 2020 (20,997 sales), this is the lowest April volume in 57 years: Since April 1965’s 106,311 units… Comparing to pre-pandemic April 2019 (188,199), the market is down -42.2%. Year-to-date volume is now down -18.6% to 474,083. Private sales hold 46% of the market in April versus 45.5% YTD at 215,368 units (-13%). Gasoline sales are down 33.5% to 40,732 units and 37.5% market share, diesel is down 48.1% to 17,156 units and 15.8% market share, but HEV is up 18.7% to 22,490 units and 20.7% market share. BEVs are also up 32.7 percent to 12,692 units and 11.7 percent market share, but PHEVs are down 8.2 percent to 10,234 units and 9.4 percent market share.

Peugeot (-32.3%) scored its 6th victory in the last 7 months and cemented its YTD leadership despite falling much faster than the market at 16.3% share. Indeed, the top three French automakers are all losing share year-over-year with Renault (-31.7%) at 13.7%, its lowest since July 2021, and Citroen (-33.9%) at 8.6%, its lowest for the year. Conversely, Dacia (+6.5%) delivered the only year-on-year increase in the Top 6 and ended the month just 0.7 points behind Citroën. It is ahead of Volkswagen (-31.2%) and Toyota (-20.4%). Ford (+10.9%) and Kia (+9.1%) are the other two gainers in the rest of the Top 10, while BMW (-18.6) moves up four spots from March to 9th and Hyundai (-8.4%) moves up two spots to 10th. Below them, Nissan (+47.8%), DS (+1%), Cupra (+162%), Mitsubishi (+158%), Alpine (+158.9%) and Alfa Romeo (+196%) all show market defying increases.

The Ford Puma enters the French Top 10 for the first time in March.

In the model rankings, the Peugeot 208 (-20.4%) easily retains first place with a 5.4% market share compared to 5.9% since the beginning of the year. The Citroën C3 (-19.9%) is back in second place for the second time in the last three months, a position it has also held since the beginning of the year. The Peugeot 308 III gains three spots compared to March and reaches the podium for the first time for this generation and the first time since February 2017 for the 308 brand. The Dacia Sandero (-16.8%) falls two places to 4th place ahead of the Renault Captur (-14.6%) which remains in 5th place. The Peugeot 2008 (-55.6%) collapses compared to last year but gains three places compared to last month to be #6 in front of the Peugeot 3008 (-55.3%) also in great difficulty. The Fiat 500 (+32.8%) goes completely against the market and climbs 6 places to reach the 8th place in the general ranking and the 1st foreign model. This means that the Fiat 500 sells better in France than in Italy, both in terms of volume and share. But where is the Renault Clio? It is down 68.3% on the previous year and is in a barely believable 9th place, which is by far the worst ranking ever recorded by the brand in France. Inventory problems could be the cause of this particularly disastrous month. The Ford Puma (+69.7%) enters the French Top 10 for the first time in 10th place and becomes the best-selling foreign car since the beginning of the year in 12th place.

Previous month: France March 2022: The market plunges -19.5%, Dacia (+31.4%) resists and places Sandero in 2nd position.

One year ago: France April 2021: Renault Clio V back in the lead, Hyundai (+19.8%) impresses, sales down -25.4% compared to two years ago.

The Top 55 all makes and the Top 150 models of April 2022 are available below.

Toyota ranks a record 3 in France in October. Photo largus.fr

After 14 consecutive months of decline, the French new car market confirmed its return to growth with a third consecutive year-on-year increase of +5.4% to 124,982 registrations in October. However, this is an abysmal decline of -33.9% compared to October 2019, before the pandemic. Year-to-date volume remains frankly negative at -10.3% y/y to 1,237,049 and down -32.4% or nearly 600,000 units from the first 10 months of 2019. For the second consecutive month and the second time, BEVs outperformed diesel models, but this time by only 21 units. The result is an average CO2 emission of 100.7g/km, the second lowest ever recorded after last month (98.3).

Continue reading France October 2022: Toyota overtakes Citroën and Dacia for the first time, market up 5.4%.

The Renault Megane E-Tech is already in the French Top 10. Photo largus.fr

Update 28/10: Now with the Top 300 all models.

The French new car market confirms that it may have bottomed out with a second consecutive year-on-year increase in September, up 5.5% to 141,142 registrations. However, this result is down -18.6% from the last year before the crisis in 2019 (173,443). YTD remains largely negative at -11.8% to just 1,112,072 units but down 530,000 sales and -32.2% from 2019 (1,641,367), a sign that the market is far from having recovered. BEVs are in the spotlight this month, eclipsing diesel sales for the first time in French history. As a result, average CO2 emissions for the month reach an all-time low of 98.3 g/km, dropping below 100 for the first time, compared to the previous record of 101.5 in December 2021.

Continue reading France September 2022: Peugeot 208 up to 7.2% market share, Renault Megane E-Tech in the Top 10

First Top 10 for the Toyota Yaris Cross in France.

Update 9/09: Now with the Top 300 ranking of all models.

New car sales in France ended 14 consecutive months of decline in August with a timid +3.8% year-on-year increase to 91,406 units. This is still a severe decline of -29.3% compared to August 2019, before the pandemic. YTD now stands at 970,933 sales, down -13.8% compared to the same period in 2021 and -39.3% over the first 8 months of 2019. Gasoline sales are up 5.8% to 35,164 units and 38.5% share from 37.7% a year ago, diesel is down -11.4% to 14,177 and 15.5% share from 18.2% in August 2021, HEV is up 14,7% to 19,607 and 21.4% share versus 19.4% last year, PHEVs are down -7.8% to 6,900 and 7.5% share versus 8.5% and BEVs are up 24.4% to 13.5% share versus 11.3% a year ago. Note that long-term rentals now account for 53% of private sales compared to 46% a year ago in August 2021.

Continue reading France August 2022: market up 3.8%, Toyota beats a record market share, Citroën C3 beats Peugeot 208 for first place.

The Fiat 500 is in the French Top 10 in July.

Update 17/08: Now with the Top 50 all makes and the Top 300 all models.

Only 107,547 new passenger cars were sold in France in July, down 7.1% year-on-year, marking the 14th consecutive month of losses. Until the pandemic, one of the biggest months of the year in the country, July 2022 is the lowest volume for that month in over 50 years: since 1971. (104,811 units). This when July 2021 was already down -35.3% from 2020. Looking at the pre-pandemic numbers, the market is down -37.5% from the 172,225 units in July 2019… YTD is now down -15.3% to 879,527 and will not reach 1 million units until September when it did in July of last year. It is down -34.3% from 1,338,667 units in the same period in 2019 and -35.5% from 1,363,574 sales in 2018.

Continue reading France July 2022: market down -7.1% for the weakest July in 51 years, Hyundai (+20.9%), Fiat (+35%) defend themselves

The Jogger helps Dacia break the 10% market share barrier in June.

Update 28/07: Now with the Top 302 all models.

In France, June is usually the biggest month of the year for new car sales and as such, sales in 2022 amounted to 171,089. However, this is a -14.2% year-over-year decrease from 199,509 in June 2021, 233,820 in June 2020, and 230,965 in June 2019. At 771,982 units, it leads to a balance sheet for the first half of 2022 down -16.3% year-on-year and -33.8% over the same period in 2019. 54% of private buyers have opted for a long-term lease, a figure that has been rising steadily in recent years. In the first half of 2022, gasoline sales are down -25.9% year-on-year to 289,612 units and 37.5% share versus 42.3% last year, diesel plunges -38.8% to 130,001 units and 16,8% share versus 23% over the same period last year, HEV is up 7.1% to 164,069 and 21.2% versus 16.6% in 2021, PHEV is down -12.5% to 62,810 and 8.1% share versus 7.8% last year. Finally, BEVs are up 28.7% to 93,344 and their market share is 12.1% compared to 7.9% in H1 2021.

Continue reading France June 2022: Dacia remains in 3rd place, crossing the 10% market share mark for the first time, Jogger moves up to 12th place.