France October 2011: Renault Twingo and Koleos up UPDATED

Renault Koleos

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 150 best-selling models: click on the title to see *

At 176,203 registrations, the French new car market is up an encouraging 3% in October, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,837,474, up 0.4%. After two months of heavy promotions, the Renault Clio returns to its July level at 6.8% of the market and 11,933 sales, also leading the year-to-date ranking at 108,198 units and 5.9%.

The Peugeot 207 is back to #2 but lags way behind the Clio at just 4.8% share and 8,416 sales. It is also #2 year-to-date at 86,962 units and 4.7%. Now that the first pictures of its successor, the Peugeot 208, have been released, expect either a slow death until the 208’s March 2012 launch, or a second wind fuelled by end-of-stock promotions…

Renault Twingo

While the Renault Megane drops one spot to a still very impressive 4.2% share, the Renault Twingo, possibly boosted by the arrival of its facelifted version in dealerships, is up to 4th place with 6,980 sales and 4%, its best share in France since January this year. The Citroen C3 is up to #5 at 3.7% and stays #3 in 2011 year-to-date with 67,938 units. Excellent month for the Dacia Duster, up 4 spots on September to #7 with 2.9%, it breaks into the year-to-date Top 10 at #10 with 42,063 sales and 2.3%, just below the VW Polo at 42,720 units.

BMW 5 Series

The Dacia Sandero is also back in shape, up a massive 25 ranks on September to #15 with 2,766 sales and 1.6% and the Peugeot 508 is up 6 spots to #17. Further down the ranking, the BMW X1 is the best-selling BMW in France again at #52 with 841 units, the BMW 5 Series is up 13 spots to #62, the restyled Renault Koleos is up 20 spots to #68 with 553 sales and the Hyundai ix35 is up 22 spots to #69. Notice the Range Rover Evoque breaking into the French Top 100 for the very first time at #95.

Previous month: France September 2011 Renault Clio III and Megane III at their highest ever

Full October 2011 Top 150 Ranking Table below.