France March 2014: Renault Captur & Peugeot 2008 both in Top 4 for the first time in market up 9%

Peugeot 2008

* See the Top 80 best-selling models and Top 16 brands by clicking on the title! *

Very encouraging figures for new car sales in France in March: up 9% year-on-year to 179,871 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 446,615 units, up 3% on 2013. However because of fleet orders remaining low, CCFA spokesman Francois Roudier believes “We’re still in crisis mode.” The French market has shows stop start recovery, after a 9% increase in December and stagnation both in January and February. For once, most of the year-on-year growth this month is to be attributed to local manufacturers: Renault is up 14%, Peugeot up 16% and Citroen up 13%! Add to this Dacia up a gargantuan 53% to 10,305 sales and 3.7% and the picture is complete. Notice also Opel up 17% and BMW up 18%.

Dacia sales are up 53% year-on-year in France in March!

In the models ranking, below the Renault Clio IV (5.8%) and Peugeot 208 (4.7%), the heroes of the month are once again the Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008: March marks the first time they are both within the monthly French Top 4, both holding their best-ever ranking at home this month. The Captur is third with 6,041 sales and 3.4% share while the 2008 is 4th at 5,653 units and 3.1%. This means the Captur is now #3 year-to-date while the 2008 ranks 5th! Peugeot even announced today that it would increase production of the 2008 for the 5th time since its introduction last April to 860 vehicles a day after receiving 120,000 orders for the subcompact SUV.

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Previous post: France 1-19 March 2014: Peugeot 308 holds onto podium spot

Previous month: France February 2014: Now with Top 300 All-models ranking!

One year ago: France March 2013: Nissan Qashqai in Top 10! Renault Captur #35!

Full March 2014 Analysis, Top 80 models and Top 16 brands Ranking Tables below.