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France 1996: Renault Clio softer, Megane already #2

January 10th, 1997 Leave a comment Go to comments

Renault Clio

* See the Top 100 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

Boosted by another row of scrappage schemes, the French new car market is up 10% in 1996 at 2,132.091 registrations, back above 2 million units for the first time since 1992. The Renault Clio keeps its title of best-selling model for the 5th consecutive year but in spite of a facelift during the year drops 4% to 163,696 sales and 7.7%.

Renault Megane

The big event of the year is obviously the thundering arrival of the Renault Megane in 2nd place at 136,688 units and 6.4%. Launched in November 1995, the Megane climbed to #2 as early as January 1996 with 6.2% share. The arrival in September of the MPV version, the Megane Scenic, enabled to Megane to take the lead of the market in November and December.

Peugeot 106

The facelifted Peugeot 106 lodges its best year so far with 129,017 sales and 6.1%, up 11%. It even threatened the Clio for the monthly #1 spot in April and May. At #4 the Renault Twingo continues to progress at +2% to 115,178 units and 5.4%, just above the Peugeot 306 down only 4% but 3 spots to 113,356 sales and 5.3%.

Daewoo Nexia

The Ford Fiesta is the best-selling imported car at #8 and 3.6%, up 16% ahead of the Opel Corsa (+18%) and Fiat Punto (+11%) for the first time in the year-end Top 10. Other good performers include the Peugeot 406 up to #12 and the Citroen Saxo up to #14, breaking into the monthly Top 10 for the first time in July at #7 and 4%.

Notice the Fiat Bravo/Brava at #19 and the Opel Vectra at #20. 1996 is the first year a Korean model ever ranked within the year-end Top 50 in France: the Daewoo Nexia is #39 with 9,541 sales and 0.4%, up 118% on 1995. The Ford Ka, which will give Ford’s design a new direction in the next decade, lands at #59.

Previous year: see the France 1995 Top 100 best-selling models here.

Full Year 1996 Top 100 Ranking Table below.

France Full Year 1996:

Pos Model 1996 % 96/95 1995 % Pos
1 Renault Clio 163,396 7.7% -4% 170,269 8.8% 1
2 Renault Megane 136,688 6.4% 734% 16,384 0.8% 27
3 Peugeot 106 129,017 6.1% 11% 116,267 6.0% 3
4 Renault Twingo 115,178 5.4% 2% 112,487 5.8% 4
5 Peugeot 306 113,356 5.3% -4% 118,667 6.1% 2
6 Renault Laguna 85,868 4.0% -3% 88,917 4.6% 5
7 Citroen ZX 77,329 3.6% -9% 85,426 4.4% 7
8 Ford Fiesta 76,972 3.6% 16% 66,465 3.4% 10
9 Opel Corsa 75,884 3.6% 18% 64,408 3.3% 11
10 Fiat Punto 68,451 3.2% 11% 61,553 3.2% 13
11 VW Golf 66,297 3.1% 7% 62,226 3.2% 12
12 Peugeot 406 66,010 3.1% 479% 11,406 0.6% 33
13 Citroen Xantia 60,762 2.8% -16% 72,496 3.8% 8
14 Citroen Saxo 59,472 2.8% new 0 0.0%  -
15 VW Polo 58,660 2.8% 51% 38,846 2.0% 16
16 Ford Escort 47,802 2.2% 11% 42,893 2.2% 14
17 Citroen AX 45,573 2.1% -33% 68,055 3.5% 9
18 Opel Astra 35,379 1.7% 2% 34,610 1.8% 18
19 Fiat Bravo/Brava 32,754 1.5% 641% 4,419 0.2%  -
20 Opel Vectra 31,379 1.5% 82% 17,199 0.9% 26
21 Peugeot 205 28,076 1.3% -22% 35,859 1.9% 17
22 Fiat Panda 26,842 1.3% 42% 18,946 1.0% 25
23 Ford Mondeo 23,872 1.1% -9% 26,298 1.4% 20
24 Seat Ibiza 20,876 1.0% 6% 19,614 1.0% 23
25 Renault Safrane 20,640 1.0% -17% 24,850 1.3% 21
26 Audi A4 19,942 0.9% 29% 15,511 0.8% 30
27 Renault Espace 18,556 0.9% -21% 23,440 1.2% 22
28 Fiat Cinquecento 17,658 0.8% 258% 4,928 0.3% 49
29 BMW Serie 3 15,773 0.7% -18% 19,189 1.0% 24
30 Mercedes Classe C 15,062 0.7% -4% 15,673 0.8% 29
31 Renault Supercinq 15,026 0.7% -45% 27,197 1.4% 19
32 Peugeot 405 13,983 0.7% -64% 39,341 2.0% 15
33 Nissan Micra 11,755 0.6% -7% 12,582 0.7% 31
34 Rover 200 11,720 0.5% -27% 16,007 0.8% 28
35 Mercedes Classe E 10,558 0.5% 282% 2,762 0.1% 69
36 Nissan Almera 10,370 0.5% 408% 2,043 0.1% 83
37 Peugeot 806 9,830 0.5% -19% 12,150 0.6% 32
38 BMW Serie 5 9,656 0.5% 112% 4,546 0.2% 51
39 Daewoo Nexia 9,541 0.4% 118% 4,371 0.2% 52
40 Honda Civic 9,373 0.4% 30% 7,198 0.4% 41
41 Skoda Felicia 8,709 0.4% 36% 6,400 0.3% 44
42 VW Passat 8,431 0.4% 11% 7,605 0.4% 36
43 Seat Cordoba 8,270 0.4% 11% 7,441 0.4% 37
44 Chrysler Voyager 7,661 0.4% -1% 7,711 0.4% 35
45 Ford Galaxy 7,314 0.3% new 0 0.0%  -
46 Rover 400 7,114 0.3% 193% 2,432 0.1% 75
47 Nissan Primera 6,831 0.3% -4% 7,125 0.4% 42
48 Citroen Evasion 6,662 0.3% -8% 7,213 0.4% 40
49 Peugeot 605 6,055 0.3% -17% 7,260 0.4% 39
50 Rover 100 5,689 0.3% -42% 9,863 0.5% 34
51 Alfa Romeo 145/146 5,634 0.3% -4% 5,875 0.3%  -
52 Toyota Carina 5,279 0.2% 0% 5,290 0.3% 48
53 Opel Tigra 5,278 0.2% -10% 5,849 0.3% 46
54 Renault 19 5,169 0.2% -94% 86,307 4.5% 6
55 Hyundai Accent 5,146 0.2% 29% 3,986 0.2% 54
56 Citroen XM 5,075 0.2% -25% 6,758 0.4% 43
57 Seat Toledo 4,935 0.2% -7% 5,306 0.3% 47
58 VW Sharan 4,473 0.2% new 0 0.0%  -
59 Ford Ka 4,356 0.2% new 0 0.0%  -
60 Rover 600 4,249 0.2% -30% 6,037 0.3% 45
61 Lancia Y 3,965 0.2% new 0 0.0%  -
62 Renault Express 3,782 0.2% -4% 3,945 0.2% 55
63 Toyota Corolla 3,770 0.2% 9% 3,463 0.2% 63
64 Audi A6 3,661 0.2% 0% 3,663 0.2% 59
65 Toyota Rav4 3,626 0.2% 15% 3,156 0.2% 65
66 Mazda 323 3,597 0.2% -15% 4,214 0.2% 53
67 Opel Omega 3,256 0.2% -15% 3,837 0.2% 58
68 Seat Marbella 3,251 0.2% -7% 3,486 0.2% 62
69 Fiat Ulysse 3,170 0.1% 44% 2,201 0.1% 78
70 Volvo 850 3,155 0.1% 110% 1,499 0.1% 99
71 Daewoo Espero 2,906 0.1% 58% 1,836 0.1% 87
72 VW Polo Classic 2,734 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
73 Volvo S40/V40 2,719 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
74 Lancia Delta 2,601 0.1% -6% 2,769 0.1% 67
75 Honda Accord 2,544 0.1% n/a n/a n/a 106
76 Opel Frontera 2,502 0.1% -7% 2,691 0.1% 70
77 Renault Trafic 2,432 0.1% -4% 2,533 0.1% 72
78 Lancia Y10 2,154 0.1% -40% 3,575 0.2% 61
79 Lada Samara 2,120 0.1% 6% 1,993 0.1% 84
80 Suzuki Baleno 2,106 0.1% n/a n/a n/a 122
81 Toyota Land Cruiser 2,086 0.1% 14% 1,822 0.1% 88
82 Santana Vitara 2,038 0.1% n/a n/a n/a 113
83 Lada Niva 2,033 0.1% -5% 2,145 0.1% 81
84 Nissan Terrano 2,016 0.1% 11% 1,821 0.1% 89
85 Mitsubishi Pajero 1,928 0.1% 22% 1,582 0.1% 95
86 Alfa Romeo 155 1,895 0.1% -52% 3,916 0.2% 56
87 Saab 900 1,890 0.1% 37% 1,375 0.1% 101
88 VW Vento 1,884 0.1% -44% 3,368 0.2% 64
89 Suzuki Swift 1,812 0.1% -4% 1,884 0.1% 86
90 Citroen Berlingo 1,785 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
91 Fiat Marea 1,741 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
92 VW Transporter 1,703 0.1% 20% 1,417 0.1% 100
93 Volvo 400 1,698 0.1% -54% 3,725 0.2%  -
94 Range Rover 1,697 0.1% -4% 1,761 0.1% 91
95 Lancia Kappa 1,655 0.1% -2% 1,683 0.1% 92
96 Chrysler Stratus 1,550 0.1% n/a n/a n/a 118
97 Rover Mini 1,508 0.1% -33% 2,262 0.1% 77
98 Audi A3 1,492 0.1% new 0 0.0%  -
99 Mazda 626 1,473 0.1% -3% 1,526 0.1% 98
100 Land Rover Discovery 1,456 0.1% 8% 1,349 0.1% 102

Source: Auto Plus, many thanks to STAC for sharing the data!

Categories: France
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