France 1983: Renault 5 celebrates 10 years in first place, Renault 11 lands at #3

Renault 5

29/10/26 update: Now with Top 47 All brands and Top 190 All models

For the second consecutive year the French new car market is above 2 million units at 2,017,617 units in 1983, down 1.9%. Renault (-12%) easily keeps the overall lead in the brands charts with 35.1% share, distancing Peugeot (+15.2%) and Citroen (+4%). Ford (+8.1%) remains by far the most popular foreign brand, extending its lead over Volkswagen (-9.8%). Talbot (-19.5%) drops to #5 ahead of Fiat (-1%) while Opel surges 49.8% to #8.  

Renault 9

The Renault 5 celebrates its 10th year in a row atop the models ranking but drops 21.5% year-on-year to 10.6% share vs. 13.2% last year. The year had started with a shock: for the first time in at least 8 years, the Renault 5 was not leading the monthly ranking in January: the Renault 9 confirmed its outstanding ’82 finish by ranking #1 in January at 10.7% share vs. 9.8% for the Renault 5! The 9 ends the year in 2nd position at 6.9% share. Meanwhile the hatchback version of the 9, the Renault 11, launched to great success this year: directly at #2 with 8.6% share in April and staying #2 every single month after that to end 1983 at #3 with 6.3% share.

Renault 11

The Peugeot 305 (-1.3%) and Renault 18 (-27.4%) complete the Top 5. In 1983 the Peugeot 205 launched, but only in a 4-door variant and it actually didn’t compete at the highest level this year, peaking at a disappointing 3rd place at 6.5% share in June. It finishes the year at #6 with 5.2% share. Notice also the Citroen BX breaking into the Top 10 for its first full year of sales at #7 and 4.5% share.

Previous year: See the 1982 France Top 25 best-selling models here.

Full year 1983 Top 47 All brands, Top 190 All models vs. Full Year 1982 data and every monthly Top 10 models below.