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.

Dacia is the number three brand in France for the first time in history. Photo largus.fr

Update 22/06: Now with the Top 150 models.

New car sales in France slowed their fall in May to -10.1% to 126,813 units compared to -22.6% in April. The market is down -34.6% compared to pre-pandemic April 2019 (193,948). This is the 12th consecutive month of decline over one year in France. Year-to-date, sales are down -17% to 600,897 but down -35.8% compared to the same period in 2019. BEV sales are up 32% to 12% share, HEVs are up 3% to 29% of the market versus 36% for gasoline sales. However, PHEV sales are down 13% while diesels are down 28% to 18% share. Long-term rentals now represent 61% of the market, with 54% of private buyers opting for this option. According to AAA Data, this type of “purchase” promotes brand loyalty: 84% of long-term lease buyers renew their lease with the same brand.

In the brand rankings, Renault (-12.2%) regained first place for the first time since last December with an 18.1% share. Peugeot (-8.3%) has fallen back to second place but is holding up better than last year. We have a rare event in third place: Dacia (+4.2%) swims upstream and reaches third place for the first time in French history. The Franco-Romanian low-cost brand benefits from a particularly bad month for Citroën (-29.5%): it falls to 6.8% share, which we believe is Citroën’s lowest home market share in over 100 years., its previous low being 7.4% in December 2017. See all French historical data here. Originally launched in 1919, the Citroën brand was an immediate success, importing into France the industrial production methods pioneered by Henry Ford. Its first vehicle, the Type A, was the first mass-produced car in Europe and went from only 2,810 units in 1920 (or 4% of a booming post-war market) to 12,244 in 1921, which already represented about 20% of the French market at the time.

The Renault Arkana reaches a record 7th place at home this month.

Volkswagen (-32.5%) is also hit hard but remains in 5th place with a 5.8% share just above Toyota (-6.2%) which is resisting better than the market. Hyundai (+30.1%) is the best performer in the Top 10, reaching 7th place, an all-time high also achieved in July 2021 and January 2022. Hyundai also broke its all-time market share record at 3.7%. Mercedes (+7.5%), BMW (+5%) and Fiat (+19.7%) close the Top 10 in a resounding manner. Below that, we notice that Mitsubishi (+257%), Cupra (+91.8%), Nissan (+60.8%), Opel (+18.6%) and Kia (+15.1%) are all up double digits in the rest of the Top 30. On the other hand, Volvo (-62.4%), Land Rover (-58.1%), Seat (-57.3%) and Lexus (-36.6%) are all down. Newcomer Lynk & Co. moved up four places to 26th place, overtaking its compatriot MG (-26.2%). This month, we welcome Mobilize, the Renault Group’s carpooling company, at number 38.

In terms of models, the Peugeot 208 (+15.3%) easily retains the top spot for the 6th consecutive month with 5.7% of the market, while its nemesis, the Renault Clio (-30.8%) moves up 7 places after a catastrophic month of April, to 2nd place and 4.8% of the market. However, the Clio remains in third place since the beginning of the year, behind a Citroën C3 (-25.3%) which falls to eighth place for the month. The Dacia Sandero (-26.7%) is back on the podium with 3.6% market share, knocking the Peugeot 308 III into fourth place. The Peugeot 2008 (-38.7%) is ahead of the Renault Captur (-24.4%). The Renault Arkana (+269.8%) has reached the record of 7th place, also reached last September, while the Fiat 500 (+43.4%) remains in the Top 10 and recovers the title of best-selling foreign car since the beginning of the year. It’s the swan song for the Renault Kadjar (+121.2%), which moves up 12 places from April to 13th, thanks to significant discounts, as the model ends its career with the arrival of its replacement, the Austral. The Toyota Yaris Cross gains two places compared to last month to reach the 14th position and is now ahead of the Yaris (-36.7%). It is the most popular recent launch ahead of the Dacia Jogger (#29), the Toyota Aygo X (#41), the Renault Megane V (#44) – both models entering the French Top 50 for the first time, the VW Taigo (#47), the DS 4 (#64) and the Lynk & Co 01 (#65)

Previous month: France April 2022: Market down -22.6%, Peugeot 308 III on the podium, Ford Puma in the Top 10

One year ago: France May 2021: Renault Clio V and Dacia Sandero III lead the market: +46.5% compared to 2020 but -27.3% compared to 2019.

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

The Citroën C3 achieved a rare second place at home.

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

New car sales in France suffered a 7th consecutive month of year-on-year decline in February at -13% to 115,386 units. The decline increases to -31% when compared to the pre-pandemic period in February 2020. Over the first two months of the year, the market has fallen by 15.7% to 218,285 sales. Gasoline sales drop 24.5 percent to a 37.9 percent share, while diesel sales plummet 38.7 percent to a 17.6 percent share. HEV sales (including PHEV) are up 7% to 28% and BEVs jump from 59.7% to 11.7% market share.

Peugeot (-27.7%) is falling twice as fast as the market but retains the brand’s top spot with 16.8% market share compared to 18.2% so far this year. Renault (-13.8%) is holding up better, but is still losing market share, reaching a record low of 14%. Citroën (-14.1%) followed the same trend, with a 10.4% share. In total, the top three French brands hold only 41.2% of their domestic market this month, compared with 43% in 2021 and 47.2% in 2020. On the other hand, Dacia (-7.2%) gained shares over one year to 7.7%, as did Volkswagen (-6.6%) in 5th place and 6.4% share, overtaking Toyota (-20.3%). Ford (-20.8%) moved up two spots from January to 7th place, but lost ground from a year earlier. Hyundai (+7.9%) records the first gain in the Top 10, but Tesla (+204.9%) is the most impressive, rising to an all-time high of 9th place (also reached in August 2021), and beating all the premium brands, including BMW (-11.5%) to 10th place, Mercedes (-18.3%) to 12th place, and Audi (-11.3%) to 13th place. MG (+275.5%), Lamborghini (+150%), Honda (+36.8%), Ferrari (+33.3%), Mini (+21.6%), Porsche (+20.7%), and Fiat (+7.1%) are among the other winners below.

As for the models, the Peugeot 208 (-20%) takes a hit but remains in the lead while the Citroen C3 (-8.3%) climbs two spots from January to land at #2, its best ranking since October 2019 which was the time of generation changes for the 208 and Clio. The C3 is now also #2 since the beginning of the year. For its part, the Renault Clio (-12.7%) is on a par with the market but drops to #3, which is better than the 5th place it occupied a year ago. The Peugeot 2008 (-37.5%) and the Dacia Sandero (-38.8%) both fell sharply to 4th and 6th place respectively. On the other hand, the Peugeot 3008 (-4.4%) is holding up well in 5th place, while the Dacia Duster (+24.1%) and, more impressively, the Tesla Model 3 (+133%) – the first foreigner – show the strongest progress in the Top 10. The Peugeot 308 III remains in the Top 10 for the second month in a row despite falling two places in January to 10th place. Other recent launches include the Renault Arkana dropping three spots to No. 12, the Toyota Yaris Cross dropping two spots to No. 13, the Tesla Model Y jumping to No. 36 and the Dacia Jogger dropping to No. 42.

Previous month: France January 2022: First Top 10 for the Peugeot 308 III, market down -18.6%.

One year ago: France February 2021: Dacia, Toyota leading the market accelerates its fall to -20.9%.

Top 50 all makes and Top 150 models of February 2022 below.

The Peugeot 208 is once again the best-selling vehicle in France in 2021.

Consult here nearly 130 years of French historical data.

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

Instead of a strong rebound after a year 2020 torpedoed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the French new car market is stable in 2021 at +0.5% to 1,659,008 units which places it with 2020 (1,650,118) at a 46-year low: these are the lowest annual volumes since 1975 (1,482,343). Since December, sales have been down for 7 consecutive months. In addition, the market is down -25.1% or 555,000 annual units from pre-pandemic 2019. Personal sales fall -7.6% y-o-y, or 59,000 units, to 715,282, for a record 43.1% share versus 46.9% in 2020 and 44.3% in 2019. Fleet sales increased by 7.8% to 483,507 units, with a 6.6% share for BEVs (32,143), 27.2% for HEV+PHEVs (131,706) and 35.5% for diesels. Long-term leases are up 10.4 percent this year, with nearly half of private buyers choosing to lease their new car rather than buy it. In terms of fuel type in the overall market, gasoline drops 13.8% to 667,503 and 40.2% market share from 46.9% a year ago, diesel implodes 30.7% to 349,482 and 21.1% market share from 30.6% in 2020, hybrid electric vehicles jump 69.5% to 286,525 and a 17.3% share versus 10.2% last year, PHEV increases 89% to 141,012 and an 8.5% share versus 4.5% a year ago, and BEV jumps 46.1% to 162,106 and a 9.8% share versus 6.7% in 2020.

The Dacia Sandero was the number one brand in the country in January, June, July and August.

We have a historic change in the brand rankings: Peugeot (-5.3%) takes the lead for the first time since at least 1935, and overtakes Renault (-14.5%) for the first time since 1939. It is then ranked second, behind Citroën. Peugeot topped the monthly rankings a record 7 times, compared to 5 for Renault. Considering that Peugeot has continuously increased its average transaction price over the past few years, this is a remarkable performance for the lion brand. Citroën (-0.5%) was stable like the market and saw its share thaw slightly to 9.8%. It was an exceptional year for Dacia (+28.9%), which reached a record share of 7.5%, eclipsing 2018’s 6.5% and rising to 4th place for the 2nd time after 2018. Below them, Volkswagen (+7.7%) and Toyota (+7.2%) easily outperform the market to rank #5 (-1) and #6 (0) respectively.

Mercedes (-3.4%) gains one place and remains the best-selling premium brand in 7th place, ahead of Audi (+10.4%) which moves up two places to 8th and BMW (+1.1%) which remains in 9th place. Hyundai (+30.8%) recorded the strongest increase in the Top 10 to reach a new volume record, surpassing for the first time its sister brand Kia (+13.2%), the latter also having broken its volume record this year. Tesla (+258.7%) is the most impressive brand, entering the French Top 20 in 17th place. Jeep (+69.6%), MG (+600.9%), Cupra (+1591.1%) and Alpine (+117.7%) also soar, while newcomer Lynk & Co lands in 37th place. If we consider only private sales, Dacia manages to take the first place for the first time with 103,770 sales, distancing Renault and Peugeot. Citroën (54,034) was fourth, just ahead of Toyota (52,087). In terms of fleet sales, Peugeot (121,451), Renault (96,990) and Citroën (54,322) dominate.

The Peugeot 2008 achieved its first monthly top spot in October.

The Peugeot 208 II (-5.2%) remains at the top of the model rankings, but sees its share drop from 5.6% to 5.3%. The Renault Clio V (+1.4%) is catching up and ended the year with less than 2,800 sales. The Peugeot 2008 II (+13.2%) remains in third place and was the best selling car for the first time in October. The Dacia Sandero III has had a historic year, even though it is only one spot above the previous generation, in fourth place. In its first full month of sales in January, it made the Sandero brand the best-selling car overall for the first time, and then the third generation single-handedly took over the market from June to August. The Citroën C3 (+11.7%) fell back one place to 5th place despite a solid result. The Renault Captur II (-3.7%) follows in front of a strong Peugeot 3008 (+11.8%). The Toyota Yaris (-3.4%) is once again the best-selling foreigner (although it is made in France), overtaking a Dacia Duster (+2.6%) back in the Top 10 at #0 and the Renault Twingo (-32.5%) in free fall. The Fiat 500 (+40.3%) moves up seven spots to number two among foreign vehicles, just above a very impressive Tesla Model 3 (+284.6%), which has entered the monthly Top 10 five times, reaching number seven in August and December. The Renault Arkana (#21) is the best-selling recent launch, entering the Top 10 in September (#7) and November (#10). Also of note is the Dacia Spring (#36), which reached a record #6 in November, the Opel Mokka (#68), the Toyota Yaris Cross (#82) and the Peugeot 308 III (#94).

The Renault Master will be the best-selling commercial vehicle in France in 2021.

The light commercial vehicle market is more dynamic with +7.5% year-on-year to 432,622 sales, remaining the largest in Europe. Renault (+2.4%) remains the market leader but is still lagging behind, with its share falling from 30.3% to 28.8%. Peugeot (+8.8%) and Citroën (+9.3%), on the other hand, slightly outperformed overall growth and improved their share to 17.8% and 15.4% respectively. Fiat (+6.8%) and Ford (+4.4%) complete the Top 5, while Toyota (+46.2%), Opel (+23.1%) and Iveco (+22.2%) show the biggest gains in the Top 10. Suzuki (+131%), Isuzu (+97.4%) and Seat (+73.6%) shine below them. As far as models are concerned, the Renault Master III (-5.8%) and the Renault Trafic (+12.2%) benefit from the transition year of the Renault Kangoo (-13.8%) to take the first two places in the ranking. The Fiat Ducato (+10.7%) gains one position and moves into 4th place, and the Peugeot Expert (+19.2%) gains two positions and moves into 5th place. The Citroën C3 (+69.3%) and the Jumpy (+14.9%) also made it into the Top 10. The Renault Express (15th) was the best-selling new launch of the year, well ahead of the Renault Kangoo III (32nd).

Previous month: France November 2021: Dacia Spring rises to 6th place, market decline eases to -3.2%.

Previous year: France 2020: Peugeot 208 II wins its first victory, Renault Zoe #9 in a market down -25.5% for the lowest volume in 45 years.

Two years ago: France 2019: 6th consecutive increase (+1.9%) for a market at its highest in 9 years, Peugeot 208 I leads the transition year

The Top 55 all makes and the Top 150 models of December 2021 are available below.

The top 65 brands, top 150 models, top 30 LCV brands, and top 100 LCV models for the year 2021 compared to the year 2020 figures below.