France December 2015: Renault and Dacia tank up on sales

First appearance of the Renault Mégane IV in French sales charts. Picture largus.fr 

* Now updated with the Top 48 All-brands and Top 310 All-models *

The French new car market ends the year on a high with total registrations up 12% or 20.000 units year-on-year to  183.724, lifting the Full Year 2015 total up 7% to 1.917.230. Renault is up a flamboyant 26% to 23% share, almost 9 percentage points of share above archenemy Peugeot up just 2% to 14.2%. Dacia for its part is finally up 28% on December last year to 10.452 and 5.7% share. Similarly to last June, the Renault Group seems to have fallen back to an old habit we described in STRATEGY: Renault champion of “fake” registrations.

The Dacia Sandero is up 49% year-on-year in December. 

Citroen is up 10% to a weak 8.9% share vs. 10.5% over the full year, while Volkswagen continues to be seriously handicapped by the aftermath of dieselgate  with volumes down 15% to just 6.6% share (7.5% in 2015). Dacia finally lodges a frankly positive month with sales 28% on December last year to 10.452 and 5.7% share. Mercedes is up a spectacular 33% year-on-year and 7 spots on November to #6 and 4.5% share vs. 2.9% in 2015, clearly outselling BMW (5.880) and Audi (5.414). Fiat (+37%), Hyundai (+48%) and, at last, DS (+55%) deliver very solid gains.

The Renault Kadjar hits a record 9th place at home this month.

Model-wise, the Renault Clio is back to a clear pole position at 11.025 units and 7.3% share despite sales down 1% year-on-year, distancing the Peugeot 208 stable at 7.405 sales and 4.9%. The Renault Captur overtakes the Peugeot 308 to #3, the Dacia Sandero is up 49% to #5 and the Renault Kadjar up to a record-breaking 9th place with 4.301 deliveries and 2.3% share, kicking all foreigners outside the French Top 10: the VW Polo is #11, the Toyota Yaris #14 and VW Golf #15. Demo pre-sales shoot the new Renault Mégane  VI to #20. The ‘real’ sales will start in 2016 and will be fascinating to follow. Renault also places the Espace at #25 (+3%) and the Talisman at #52 (+31). Notice also the Fiat 500X is up to #35 and the Hyundai Tucson up 10 spots on November to #51.

Previous month: France November 2015: Peugeot 208 on top in market artificially up 11%

One year ago: France December 2014: BMW and Mercedes finish on a high

Full December 2015 Top 48 All-brands and Top 310 All-models below.