France October 2015: Market up 1%, Renault Kadjar hits 2% share

The Renault Kadjar is up to #13 this month at home.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 50 All-brands and Top 323 All-models *

French new car sales are up a very timid 0.6% year-on-year in October to 161.030 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 1.582.465 units, up 6% on 2014. The Top 3 local manufacturers are all very close to their year-to-date market shares, yet this means very different year-on-year evolutions: Renault is up 5% to 19.7%, Peugeot is down 3% to 17.4% and Citroen down a harsh 12% to 10.9%. Volkswagen seems to start to suffer from Dieselgate, but only ever so slightly at -3% to 11.058 sales and 6.9%. Dacia continues to hit the pause button at -5% to 4,6% share vs. 5.2% year-to-date. Toyota (+7%) is back above Nissan (-18%), Audi reclaims its traditional luxury pole position at #8 (+4%) above BMW a #12 (+17%) and Mercedes at #13 (+10%).

French Skoda sales are up 28% year-on-year in October.

New brand DS stabilises (-1%), Hyundai and Mini both gain a stunning 19%, Suzuki is up 32% thanks to the Vitara while other members of the Volkswagen Group stable are totally unaffected by Dieselgate: Seat is up 11%, Skoda up 28% and Porsche up 50%. Mazda (+61%), Jeep (+124%), Jaguar (+152%) and Smart (+213%) are among the most impressive carmakers in the ranking, while Chinese BYD sells its very first two e6 taxis in France this month.

The first two French BYD e6 have been registered (Chinese models pictured).

In the models ranking, the Top 6 best-sellers re-order themselves to exactly reflect the year-to-date ranking: a rare moment of stability in the French sales charts. The Renault Clio reclaims the pole position the Peugeot 208 snapped off last month despite sales down 2% year-on-year to 8.764 vs. 8.310 (+17%) for the 208. The Peugeot 308 is up one spot on September to round up the podium at 4% of the market above the Renault Captur (+12%), Peugeot 2008 (+5%) and Citroen C3 (-23%). The Citroen C4 Picasso (#7) outsells its archenemy the Renault Scénic (#9) while the VW Polo (#8) and Toyota Yaris (#15) are the only foreign nameplates in a decidedly French Top 15.

Demo sales lift the Renault Talisman inside the Top 200 ahead of its December launch.

The Renault Kadjar crosses the 2% market share milestone for the first time ever, up one spot on last month to a best-ever #13, the Mini is up 31% to #26, the Renault Espace is up 3-fold on September 2014 thanks to the new model to #30, as is the VW Passat up 207% to #33, while the Renault Zoe is up 48% to #39 and the all-new Hyundai Tucson breaks into the French Top 50 for the first time, up 26 spots on September to #41. Further down, notice the Suzuki Vitara up to #72, the Mercedes GLC and Mazda CX-3 getting closer to the Top 100, the Mini Clubman shooting up 80 ranks on last month thanks to the new gen and the Renault Talisman breaking into the Top 200.

Previous month: France September 2015: Peugeot 208 #1, Renault Kadjar leads segment

One year ago: France October 2014: Peugeot places 3 models in Top 5

One year ago (full data): France October 2014: Now with Top 300 models and All-brands

Full October 2015 Top 50 All-brands and Top 323 All-models below.