France September 2012: Renault Clio 4 already in Top 10

Renault Clio 4. Picture by L’Argus, all rights reserved.

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The French new car market is now behaving dangerously similarly to the Italian and Spanish ones, down 18% year-on-year in September to 136,859 registrations, the biggest fall since last March. This brings the year-to-date total to 1,430,832 units, down 14% on 2011. Full Year projections are now between 1.85 and 1.9 million. The Peugeot 208 enjoys its third consecutive month atop the French models ranking with 7,781 sales and 5.7% share and is #5 year-to-date, now above of the Peugeot 207. The next 4 models are the Renault Clio 3 (4.6%), Scenic (3.6%), Megane (3.3%) and Citroen C3 (3%).

Citroen C4. Picture by L’Argus, all rights reserved.

The Peugeot 3008 is up 3 spots to a brilliant 6th place, its best since its record #5 from May 2011, ahead of the Citroen C4 with 3,272 units and 2.4%, up 4 ranks to #7, this generation’s best-ever ranking. The big event in the Top 10 is the arrival of the Renault Clio 4 at #8, even though the 3,111 units sold in September are pre-sales to Renault dealerships, as the new generation of Renault’s best-seller does not go on sale in the country before October.

Nissan Qashqai. Picture by L’Argus, all rights reserved.

The Nissan Qashqai continues its astounding career in France (like in the rest of Europe), up two spots on August to reach a shiny 13th place, its highest ever ranking in the country, thanks to 2,334 sales and 1.7%. The Toyota Yaris is up 3 ranks to #14 at 2,238 units and 1.6%, its highest position in France since January 2008, making it two Japanese models in the French Top 15 for the first time in the history of automobile!

Citroen C4 Aircross. Picture by L’Argus, all rights reserved.

Another model that beats its French ranking record this month is the VW Tiguan, up one spot to #19 with 1,869 sales and 1.4%. If Dacia has an exceptional month of August with a record 3 models within the Top 15, in September there is none: the Duster is down to #18, the Lodgy at #30 and the Sandero at #31… Notice also the BMW 3 Series up 12 spots to #29, the Citroen C4 Aircross up 20 to a record #49 and the Hyundai i20 up 6 to #54 vs. #80 year-to-date.

Previous post: France 1-17 September 2012: Peugeot 208 and Citroen C4 in shape

Previous month: France August 2012: Dacia Lodgy #10 in worst month in 15 years

One year ago: France September 2011: Renault Clio and Megane 3 at highest ever

Full September 2012 Top 200 Ranking Table below.