New Caledonia (France) Full Year 2014: Ford Ranger cements lead

The Ford Ranger tops the New Caledonian sales charts for the 6th year running.

* See the Top 100 best-selling models and Top 40 All-brands by clicking on the title *

Stable. That’s what new car sales in New Caledonia, a small French Overseas Territory located north-east of Australia, are: 9,926 registrations in 2014 vs. 9.923 in 2013, a last minute recovery in a market in negative for most of the year. French manufacturers are not the preferred option of New Caledonian consumers: Ford is the best-selling brand with 13% share above Toyota at 8.3%. Renault (7.6%) is up 19% to land on the podium at #3, followed by Peugeot (-2%) and Citroen (+9%). Hyundai is up 18%, Nissan tumbles down 24%. Contrary to Metropolitan France, Chinese brands are able to operate in New Caledonia due to less stringent security and pollution laws. Great Wall is #15 with just under 2% market share, ZhengZhou/Dongfeng is #23, BYD #27, JMC #34 and Chery #35.

The Isuzu D-Max is one of 4 pickups in the New Caledonian Top 5.

The Ford Ranger is the most popular vehicle on the archipelago for the 6th consecutive year with sales almost identical compared to 2013 at 828 units and 8.4% share. Benefitting from tax cuts, pickup trucks are the dominant force in the New Caledonian models charts: there are 4 in the 2014 Top 5. The Toyota Hilux remains #2 despite sales down 19%, the Nissan Navara is down 3% to #4 and the Isuzu D-Max up 23% to #5. The only non-pickup in the Top 5 best-sellers, the Dacia Duster is down 11% at #3. Notice also the Hyundai ix35 up 29% to #8, the Peugeot 208 up 129% to #9, Kia Sportage up 31% to #10, Mazda BT-50 up 88% to #15 and the Dacia Sandero up 50% to #16.

Previous month: New Caledonia (France) November 2014: Renault Clio and Citroen C1 up

Previous year: New Caledonia (France) Full Year 2013: Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux dominate

Two years ago: New Caledonia (France) Full Year 2012: Ford Ranger keeps pole position

Full Year 2014 Top 100 models and Top 40 All-brands vs. Full 2013 figures below.