France June 2013: Renault Captur up to #4, Peugeot 2008 #11

July 5, 2013
Matt Gasnier

Surprise: the Renault Captur is the 4th most popular model in France this month!

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 100 best-selling models and Top 18 best-selling brands! Click on title to see *

The French new car market is down 9% year-on-year both in June at 190,199 registrations and year-to-date at 930,320 units. Beaten by the Peugeot 208 for the first time in 2013 last month, the Renault Clio IV reclaims the top spot in June thanks to 11,432 sales and 6% share vs. 8,933 and 4.7% for the 208, and therefore reinforces its 2013 year-to-date lead at 55,887 units vs. 51,640. The Renault Scenic stays third but gets a boost thank to its facelift, up more than one percentage point on May to 3.9% and 7,454 sales. It is now also #3 year-to-date, passing the Megane.

Renault Captur

But let’s cut to the chase: what matters this month is the all-new French compact SUV duel. The Peugeot 2008 shot first by ranking #7 after 11 and 17 days in the month and #9 after 24 days. In my last article I was wondering whether it could maintain a Top 10 spot until the end of the month given how front-loaded Peugeot sales traditionally are each month, and how back-loaded Renault sales are. Well we are all in for a surprise: whereas it had not appeared in a single intermediary Top 10 all through June, thanks to a significant amount of sales at the end of the month, the Renault Captur shoots up 9 spots compared to May to land at a spectacular 4th position thanks to 5,381 sales and 2.8% share!

Peugeot 2008

The Captur is the first all-new model to break into the French models Top 5 since the Peugeot 208 in May 2012 and the Renault Clio IV in October 2012. This leaves the Peugeot 2008 at the Top 10’s doorstep: it is up 16 ranks to #11 at 3,917 units and 2.1%, a remarkable performance nevertheless. It’s game on for the new compact SUV battle, a category both French carmakers are entering this year and at this stage it looks like both have struck gold.

Citroen C4 Picasso

The Citroen C3 is back up 3 spots to #5, the VW Polo back up 5 to #7, the Renault Twingo back up 6 to #8, the Citroen C4 down 3 to #9, Peugeot 3008 down 5 to #10 and the Dacia Sandero is down 8 to #12. First pre-sales for the new generation Citroen C4 Picasso, landing it in 13th place with 3,323 units and 1.7%. Notice also the Peugeot 308, soon to be replaced, down to #17 and 1.6% share which is the same as in Sweden this month, the Renault Kangoo up 44 to #31, Fiat Panda up 19 to #32, Fiat 500L up 27 to #38, Renault Zoe up 18 to #65, Opel Adam up 7 to #70 and the Mercedes CLA up 9 to #77.

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