France 6 months 2012: Bloodshed among the Top 15 models

At +18%, the Nissan Juke is one of only five models in the Top 30 to see its sales increase. Picture Stefan Solakov, all rights reserved.

* See the Top 100 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

After Brazil, it’s the turn of France to have its half-year models ranking dissected. With a market down 14% year-on-year at 1,048,298 registrations, you’d expect mixed fortunes among the top-selling models. In fact it’s an absolute bloodshed. Apart from the Peugeot 208, best newcomer over the period at #13 with 19,618 sales and 1.9%, absolutely all Top 15 best-selling models see their sales drop year-on-year… For 3 of them the fall is small enough to actually enable a market share increase: it’s the case of the Renault Clio now #1 by a country mile at 5.6% share (-6%), the Renault Scenic at #5 (-3%) and the VW Golf at #10 (-4%).

At #49, the Citroen DS5 is the second best newcomer in the Top 100 after the Peugeot 208 (#13).

For others it’s a free fall: the Peugeot 207 logically loses 40%, the Dacia Duster is at -33%, the Renault Twingo at -31% and the Ford Fiesta at -28%. The first model to see its sales improve year-on-year is the Nissan Qashqai, up 8 spots and 11% to a best-ever #16 with 16,708 units and 1.6% share. Within the Top 20, notice also the Dacia Sandero back up 5 spots to #18 and the Peugeot 508 up 7 to #19. Further down, there are 4 additional ‘gainers’ in the Top 30: the Toyota Yaris at #25 (+6%), the Nissan Juke at #26 (+18%), the VW Tiguan at #27 (+42%!) and the Ford Focus at #30 (+2%).

At #62, the Kia Rio is the 3rd best newcomer in the Top 100. Picture CokiFotografia, all rights reserved.

The Citroen DS4, still in launch period at the same time last year, is up 46 spots and 189% to #35, the Opel Zafira up 18% to #39, the Mercedes B-Class up 55% and 20 ranks to #43, the Citroen DS5 is the only other newcomer in the French Top 50 at #49, the Mercedes C-Class is up 3% to #52, the Skoda Fabia up 18% to #56, the Kia Sportage up 51% to #61, the Kia Rio up from outside the Top 100 to #62, the VW Up! lands at #68, the Dacia Lodgy at #72 and the Range Rover Evoque at #86.

Previous post: France June 2012: Dacia Lodgy in Top 30, Peugeot 301 and Dacia Dokker make their first appearance

One year ago: France June 2011: Renault Clio and Megane on podium

Full 6 months 2012 Top 100 Ranking Table below.