France August 2013: Renault Captur and Dacia Sandero superstars in worst month in 37 years

The Renault Captur outsells the Peugeot 2008 2 to 1 this month in France.

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One year ago in August 2012, the French new car market fell below the symbolic 100,000 monthly units for the first time in 15 years to 96,511 sales. This year it does even worse, down a further 11% to just 85,565 registrations… This is the worst month (full stop) of new car sales in France in 37 years, since the 83,000 units of August 1976! The shy recovery of July (+1%) is well and truly over. In this dark context, the Renault Clio IV seems to have taken a definitive advantage over the Peugeot 208 for the race to become 2013’s best-selling model: with 4,683 sales and 5.5% it ranks #1 for the 6th time this year vs. just 2 for the 208 at 4,072 units and 4.8% in August. Year-to-date, the Clio IV adds up to 68,120 sales and 5.8% vs. 62,876 and 5.4% for the 208. Not insuperable for the Peugeot, but definitely a challenge now.

The Dacia Sandero is on the podium for the 2nd consecutive month.

In the next two spots we have the two superstars of the month. While before last month it had only managed that feat once (in March 2010), the Dacia Sandero is on the podium (#3) for the 2nd time in a row thanks to a fantastic 2,977 sales and 3.5% share. It stays #6 year-to-date but could start threatening the Citroen C3 and Renault Megane for #4 soon if it continues this way. In 4th place the Renault Captur confirms it is now a force to be reckoned with in the French market, inside the Top 5 for the third consecutive month and smashing its market share record at 3.3% thanks to 2,832 sales. That’s more than double the sales of its archenemy the Peugeot 2008, surprisingly down 6 spots on July to #16 with just 1,296 units and 1.5%.

The new generation Citroen C4 Picasso breaks into the French Top 10 for the first time.

The Renault Scenic is boosted by its facelift and gains one rank on last month to #5 with 2,826 sales and 3.3%, that’s enough to keep the new generation Citroen C4 Picasso at bay for now, even though the Citroen MPV brilliantly breaks into the French Top 10 for the first time this month, up 6 spots to #8 at 1,749 units and 2%. Notice also the Renault Twingo back up 7 ranks to #9 and the absence of any foreigner in the Top 10 for the 2nd month running: the VW Golf VII is stable at #11 while the Toyota Yaris is now the 2nd best-selling import at #15, passing the VW Polo down to #17.

The Toyota Auris reaches its highest ever French ranking this month.

Other great performers this month in France include the BMW 1 Series up 3 spots to #26 (best ranking since April 2008), Toyota Auris up 9 to #31 (best-ever ranking), Chevrolet Spark up 12 to #32 (best-ever ranking), Toyota RAV4 up 7 to #36 (potentially best-ever ranking), Seat Ibiza up 10 to #37 (best ranking in 2013), Suzuki Swift up 16 to #40 (potentially best-ever ranking), Opel Mokka up 7 to #41 (2nd best-ever ranking), Nissan Micra up 17 to #45 (best since November 2011), BMW X1 up 17 to #54 (best since December 2011) and the Chevrolet Aveo up 46 ranks to #60 (best since March 2011).

Previous post: France 1-26 August 2013: Citroen C4 Picasso in shape

Previous month: France July 2013: Dacia Sandero on podium, Renault Captur #5

One year ago: France August 2012: Dacia Lodgy #10 in worst month in 15 years

Full August 2013 Top 80 Ranking Table below.