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France 1990: Peugeot 205 reclaims top spot, Renault Clio arrives

January 29th, 1991 Leave a comment Go to comments

Peugeot 205

* See the Top 100 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to STAC *

The French new car market hits what still remains today its highest volume ever at 2,309,130 registrations, up 2% year-on-year. 5 years after its last stint in pole position, the Peugeot 205 reclaims the title of best-selling car in France with 229,044 sales and 9.9% share, up 4% on 1989. This is partly due to the replacement of the Renault Supercinq, still #1 from January to March but #3 over the full year at 146,443 units and 6.3%, by the Renault Clio launched in May.

Renault 21

Re-energised by its facelift, the Renault 21 is up 3 spots this year to #2 with 152,223 sales and 6.6% share. The Renault 19 drops 17% to #4 at 144,250 units and 6.2%, followed by the Peugeot 405 with 131,874 sales and 5.7%. The Citroen AX has a very interesting year, peaking at a fantastic 2nd place in May and June at an outstanding 7.6% market share, to finish the year at #6 and 127,810 units (5.5%).

The Renault Clio is obviously the best performing newcomer, landing in the market in May and ranking 2nd as early as July, keeping that position for the rest of the year. It peaked at 9.4% in October but didn’t manage to unsettle the Peugeot 205 from its top spot this year. Further below the Peugeot 309 improves its share slightly to 4.2%, staying 8th.

Citroen XM

The VW Golf beats the volume record for a foreign model for the 3rd consecutive year with 88,990 sales and 3.9%. It even reached a fantastic 4.9% share in December, the best market share ever for a foreign model in France. Notice the Citroen XM at #15 with 42,923 sales and 1.9% share, just below the Renault 25, and the Peugeot 605 at #18 with 36.956 units and 1.6%.

Previous year: See the 1989 France Top 100 best-selling models here.

Full Year 1990 Top 100, every monthly Top 10 Ranking Tables and every model sales below.

You can check out the sales of every model sold in France at the very bottom of this article.

You can check out every monthly Top 10 for 1990 here: 

Here are the original illustration I created at the time as a 12 year-old:

France 1990:

Pos Model 1990 % /89 1989 % Pos
1 Peugeot 205 229,044 9.9% 4% 220,869 9.7% 2
2 Renault 21 152,223 6.6% 8% 140,862 6.2% 5
3 Renault Supercinq 146,443 6.3% -38% 236,929 10.4% 1
4 Renault 19 144,250 6.2% -17% 174,417 7.7% 3
5 Peugeot 405 131,874 5.7% -9% 144,977 6.4% 4
6 Citroen AX 127,810 5.5% -8% 138,418 6.1% 6
7 Renault Clio 105,253 4.6% new 0 0.0%  -
8 Peugeot 309 96,898 4.2% 4% 93,584 4.1% 8
9 VW Golf 88,990 3.9% 3% 86,560 3.8% 9
10 Citroen BX 88,985 3.9% -16% 105,854 4.7% 7
11 Ford Fiesta 81,241 3.5% 22% 66,388 2.9% 10
12 Opel Corsa 64,783 2.8% 6% 60,986 2.7% 13
13 Fiat Uno 60,053 2.6% -5% 62,896 2.8% 12
14 Renault 25 47,815 2.1% -27% 65,465 2.9% 11
15 Citroen XM 42,923 1.9% 128% 18,812 0.8% 24
16 VW Polo 39,217 1.7% 27% 30,968 1.4% 16
17 Ford Escort 38,781 1.7% -14% 45,089 2.0% 14
18 Peugeot 605 36,956 1.6% 583% 5,408 0.2% 50
19 Seat Ibiza 35,560 1.5% 26% 28,149 1.2% 19
20 Fiat Tipo 30,457 1.3% -5% 32,050 1.4% 15
21 Audi 80 26,487 1.1% 14% 23,187 1.0% 21
22 Ford Sierra 26,479 1.1% -11% 29,847 1.3% 17
23 Fiat Panda 24,019 1.0% -16% 28,618 1.3% 18
24 Renault Espace 23,753 1.0% 20% 19,760 0.9% 23
25 Opel Kadett 23,204 1.0% -13% 26,673 1.2% 20
26 Opel Vectra 20,898 0.9% -8% 22,780 1.0% 22
27 VW Passat 19,795 0.9% 39% 14,288 0.6% 27
28 BMW Serie 3 15,474 0.7% -5% 16,297 0.7% 25
29 Mercedes 190 14,907 0.6% 4% 14,384 0.6% 26
30 Austin Metro 12,720 0.6% -4% 13,260 0.6% 30
31 Mercedes 200/300 12,321 0.5% 14% 10,834 0.5% 33
32 BMW Serie 5 11,916 0.5% -2% 12,197 0.5% 32
33 Lada Samara 11,822 0.5% -5% 12,437 0.5% 31
34 Renault 4 10,533 0.5% -26% 14,161 0.6% 28
35 Mazda 323 10,444 0.5% 61% 6,488 0.3% 40
36 Austin Mini 9,008 0.4% 19% 7,564 0.3% 37
37 Alfa 33 8,634 0.4% 14% 7,576 0.3% 36
38 Ford Orion 8,617 0.4% -38% 13,971 0.6% 29
39 Seat Marbella 8,168 0.4% 15% 7,073 0.3% 39
40 Nissan Micra 8,038 0.3% 28% 6,262 0.3% 44
41 Fiat Tempra 7,949 0.3% new 0 0.0%  -
42 Nissan Sunny 7,114 0.3% 16% 6,148 0.3% 45
43 Mazda 626 7,075 0.3% -13% 8,159 0.4% 35
44 Lancia Dedra 7,045 0.3% 1134% 571 0.0% n/a
45 Lancia Y10 7,025 0.3% 24% 5,653 0.2% 48
46 Honda Civic 7,006 0.3% 16% 6,039 0.3% 46
47 VW Jetta 6,458 0.3% 17% 5,497 0.2% 49
48 Renault Express 6,373 0.3% 0% 6,366 0.3% 43
49 Toyota Corolla 5,538 0.2% -23% 7,217 0.3% 38
50 Fiat Croma 5,402 0.2% -37% 8,633 0.4% 34
51 Rover 200 II 5,254 0.2% new 0 0.0%  -
52 Austin Montego 5,069 0.2% 17% 4,340 0.2% 57
53 Citroen 2CV 4,669 0.2% -11% 5,231 0.2% 51
54 Seat Malaga 4,234 0.2% 36% 3,107 0.1% 63
55 Volvo Serie 700 4,165 0.2% -36% 6,474 0.3% 41
56 Toyota Carina 4,114 0.2% 42% 2,900 0.1% 66
57 Alfa 75 3,817 0.2% -25% 5,058 0.2% 52
58 Ford Scorpio 3,536 0.2% -25% 4,706 0.2% 55
59 Rover 800 3,312 0.1% -18% 4,059 0.2% 58
60 Opel Omega 3,308 0.1% -31% 4,795 0.2% 54
61 Audi 100 3,196 0.1% -14% 3,726 0.2% 60
62 Renault-Jeep Cherokee 3,089 0.1% 7% 2,885 0.1% 67
63 Alfa 164 3,082 0.1% -16% 3,648 0.2% 61
64 Chrysler Voyager 3,040 0.1% 126% 1,347 0.1% 82
65 Honda Concerto 2,819 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
66 Lancia Thema 2,684 0.1% -30% 3,819 0.2% 59
67 Honda Accord 2,615 0.1% 2% 2,558 0.1% 69
68 Peugeot 505 2,525 0.1% -58% 5,977 0.3% 47
69 Renault Trafic 2,509 0.1% 17% 2,145 0.1% 72
70 Volvo 440 2,491 0.1% -43% 4,365 0.2% 56
71 Rover 100 2,209 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
72 Lada Niva 2,193 0.1% -26% 2,979 0.1% 65
73 Nissan Primera 2,030 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
74 Range Rover 1,902 0.1% 6% 1,800 0.1% 76
75 Rover 200 I 1,898 0.1% -70% 6,393 0.3% 42
76 Nissan-Ebro Patrol 1,828 0.1% 79% 1,021 0.0% 95
77 Skoda Favorit 1,766 0.1% 335% 406 0.0% n/a
78 Audi 90 1,676 0.1% -42% 2,885 0.1% 68
79 BMW Serie 7 1,669 0.1% -12% 1,897 0.1% 75
80 Toyota Lite-Ace 1,655 0.1% -17% 2,001 0.1% 74
81 Land Rover Discovery 1,636 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
82 Volvo 460 1,634 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
83 Austin Maestro 1,609 0.1% -21% 2,044 0.1% 73
84 Lada 2104 1,536 0.1% -33% 2,278 0.1% 70
85 Toyota Celica 1,474 0.1% 50% 984 0.0% 98
86 Saab 9000 1,453 0.1% -8% 1,586 0.1% 78
87 Volvo Serie 300 1,426 0.1% -52% 2,986 0.1% 64
88 Nissan-Ebro Vanette 1,418 0.1% 19% 1,196 0.1% 86
89 Lancia Delta 1,394 0.1% -36% 2,184 0.1% 71
90 Honda Prelude 1,280 0.1% -23% 1,658 0.1% 77
91 Maruti 800 1,229 0.1% 1180% 96 0.0% n/a
92 Mitsubishi Colt 1,224 0.1% 21% 1,015 0.0% 97
93 Volvo Serie 200 1,104 0.0% -23% 1,433 0.1% 80
94 Audi Coupe 1,066 0.0% -10% 1,179 0.1% 88
95 Opel Calibra 1,051 0.0% new 0 0.0%  -
97 Zastava Yugo 1,038 0.0% -30% 1,478 0.1% 79
98 Saab 900 1,006 0.0% -24% 1,329 0.1% 83
99 Volvo 480 977 0.0% -25% 1,311 0.1% 84
100 Nissan Prairie 886 0.0% 18% 749 0.0% n/a

Source: Auto Plus, L’Argus. Many thanks to STAC

Sales of all models and versions in France in 1990 (Click on image to enlarge – many thanks to STAC):

Categories: France
  1. Gabbianone94
    June 19th, 2012 at 05:45 | #1
    Reply | Quote

    Hi, first of all congratulations for this wonderful and super-useful website!
    I thought you ought to know there’s a mistake on this page, so if you want you can correct it: the “Rover 100″ is erroneously reported as “Austin 100″ (there’s no such a car as Austin 100!).
    Cheers and keep up the good work.

    • matgasnier
      June 20th, 2012 at 00:09 | #2
      Reply | Quote

      Hey Alessandro,
      Thanks very much for all your praise! And thanks for the pick-up, I have now updated the ranking to say Rover 100 :)
      Please do let me know these things, it improves the site further it’s great! :)
      cheers
      Matt

  2. STAC
    November 30th, 2011 at 11:47 | #3
    Reply | Quote

    Ah j’oubliais….
    Les J5, C25, Transporter et les quelques autres modèles (sûrement) sont dans les 1000 unités voire 88/900 unités…

  3. STAC
    November 30th, 2011 at 10:23 | #4
    Reply | Quote

    Salut Mat
    je vais m’occuper de toi….

    Je constate que tu avais oublié quelques modèles:
    Toyota Land Cruiser 1,059
    Mitsubishi Lancer 805
    Mazda 121 680

    mais tu peux mettre sans rang ces 2 derniers modèles dans le tableau.

    PS: je récupère tes chiffres dans l’autre tableau (1991).
    Voilà je vais continuer demain, si il y a des erreurs ou des oublis, je te dirai :)
    Et également si j’aurai trouvé d’autres chiffres, je te les envoie par mail. :)
    bonne continuation.
    Amicalement.

    • matgasnier
      November 30th, 2011 at 19:26 | #5
      Reply | Quote

      Super merci pour ton aide STAC :-)
      Matt

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