France 1993: Renault Clio miles away from the competition

Renault Clio

* See the Top 265 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to STAC *

1993 is the worst year since 1975 for French new car sales at 1,721,222 registrations, down 18% on 1992. The Renault Clio is the best-selling car in the country for the 2nd year in a row without any real competition with 172,881 sales and a round 10% of the market, down 26%. It peaked at 11.6% in February. The Renault 19 stays #2 and behaves in line with the market, down 21% to 116,587 units and 6.8% share. The Peugeot 106 is up 4 spots on last year to climb onto the third step of the podium with 89,519 sales and 5.2%.

Peugeot 306

It is followed by the Peugeot 405, up 1 rank but down 28% to 75,243 units and 4.4% share. In spite of a market in decline, there were a lot of newcomers at the top of the ranking this year, with no less than 3 new models breaking into the monthly podium for the first time in 1993… The Peugeot 306 is the most successful, landing directly in 5th place with 74,942 sales and 4.4% of the market. It peaked at #2 with 10,007 units and 6.4% in November.

Renault Twingo

The Renault Twingo, introduced at the Paris Auto Show in September 1992 but only starting sales in March 1993, is not far behind at #7 with 67,226 sales and 3.8%. It ranked #3 as early as for its third month of sales and peaked at #2 with 9,063 units and 7.4% in September, reaching the highest monthly share of all 1993 newcomers.

Citroen Xantia

Finally we have the Citroen Xantia ranking #9 over the Full Year with 62,324 sales and 3.6% share. Interestingly it reached the highest monthly volume of all newcomers at #3 with 11,136 units and 5.8% in July.

The VW Golf is the best-selling foreign model for the 5th time in the last 6 years at #10 with 61,545 sales and 3.6%, followed by the Ford Fiesta (#11) and Opel Corsa (#13). The Renault Safrane goes against the trend and has a fantastic year, up 29% to #16 at 37,937 units and 2.2%. The Ford Mondeo is the best foreign newcomer, directly at #19 with 27,784 sales and peaking at #14 in November.

Hyundai Pony

Further down the ranking, the #1 Japanese model is the Nissan Micra at #38 followed by the Nissan Primera at #39 but it is the Honda Civic (#41) that reaches possibly the highest French ranking so far for a Japanese, hitting #23 with 1,205 sales and 1.2% in July. 1993 is also the year the first South Korean models ever ranked within the French year-end Top 100: the Hyundai Pony is #83 with 1,548 sales and the Hyundai Lantra is #90 at 1,366 units.

3 new brands appear in France this year: Kia with the Sephia at #152 with 196 sales, SsangYong with the Korando at 5 units and Isuzu with the Trooper selling 3 units. Finally, 1993 is the year the Citroen 2CV sold its very last two new units, and the year the Renault 4 disappeared from the monthly ranking for the first time since its introduction in 1961 – it happened in October.

Previous year: see the 1992 French Top 233 best-selling models here.

Full Year 1993 Top 265 and each monthly Top 30 Ranking Tables below.