France May 2012: Podium 100% Renault for first time in 14 years, Peugeot 208 up to #5, Dacia Lodgy in Top 50 UPDATED

Peugeot 208

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 110 best-selling models! Click on title to see! *

From -2% year-on-year over the first 28 days of May, the French market drops to -16% over the full month to 165,776 registrations, with 3 less working days than May 2011. Still a disappointing result, in a month also potentially disrupted by the Presidential elections, bringing the year-to-date total to 840,158 units, down 17% on 2011. Leading again with 8,666 sales and 5.2% share, the Renault Clio has now been in pole position for 12 consecutive months and holds 5.9% of the market year-to-date at 49,215 units.

Renault Clio

Thanks to 6,647 sales, the Renault Megane keeps its 2nd spot and improves its share significantly from 3.4% in April to 4% in May, its highest since last October. The Renault Scenic rounds up the podium with 5,213 units and 3.1%, making the Top 3 models 100% Renault in part due to the 207/208 changeover. This is actually an extremely rare performance for Renault: the last time it happened was in October 1998 while the 206 was still getting settled, then the Clio led the ranking at 8.9% share above the Megane at 7,8% and the Twingo at 5.9%, the 206 ranking #4 at 4.9%.

After breaking into the Top 10 for the first time last month, the Peugeot 208 passes a new milestone in May and ranks #5 with 4,872 sales and 2.8%, for the first time selling more than the 207 down 6 spots to #10 and 2%. The Peugeot 206+ gets an end of life kick, up 10 spots to #19 and 1.4%.

Dacia Lodgy

At #29 the Mercedes B Class is up 16 ranks on April with 1,422 sales and 0.9%, the Audi A1 reaches its highest ranking yet in France at #34 with 1,293 units and 0.8%, the Opel Astra is up 14 spots to #44, the Citroen DS5 maintains itself in the Top 50 for the third consecutive month at #45, the Dacia Lodgy breaks into it for the first time at #49 with 992 sales and 0.6% and the VW Up! is down 3 ranks to #61.

Renault Zoe

Further down, the Kia Cee’d is up from outside the Top 100 to #75 thanks to the new generation, the Chevrolet Cruze is up 2 spots to #78, the Range Rover Evoque is up 11 to #86, the Bollore Blue Car is back in the Top 100 at #97 and the VW Beetle new generation breaks into it for the first time at #100 with 392 sales. The Citroen C4 Aircross is down from 892 sales last month to 226 and the Peugeot 4008 is down from 228 to 158. Lastly the first 3 Renault Zoe were registered this month.

Previous month: France April 2012: Peugeot 208 in Top 10, Dacia Lodgy lands

One year ago: France May 2011: Peugeot above Renault, places 3008 #5

Full May 2012 Top 110 Ranking Table below.