France October 2017: Peugeot 3008/5008 tandem triumphs

Peugeot 3008 and 5008 sales add up to 5.2% share in France this month.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 33 brands, Top 270 models and Top 10 private sales *

The French new car market is up a splendid 13.7% year-on-year in October to 176.498 – the highest October score since 2011 – partly thanks to one additional selling day. Adjusted for daily rates, the market is still up a robust 8.6%. This lifts the year-to-date tally up 4.8% to 1.737.375 units with one less selling day (+5.3% adjusted). If company sales (+15.7%) and long term rental sales (+27.8%) pull the market up, private sales are for once very dynamic also at +11.5% to 50.8% share vs. 51.8% a year ago. Tactical sales account for 23.3% of the market vs. 24% a year ago, demo and carmaker sales are at 16.5% share vs. 17.1% and short term rentals at 6.8% vs. 6.9%. Note the diesel market share has fallen to 46% in October and is almost at the level of petrol sales year-to-date: 826.372 diesel sales in 10 months for a 47.56% share (-4.7%) vs. 824.129 petrol sales and 47.44% share (+13.6%). For reference, the share of diesel in annual French sales was 73% in 2012, 67% in 2013, 64% in 2014, 58% in 2015 and 52% in 2016. Hybrid sales are up 41.3% to 65.137 units and 3.75% share including 8.939 plug in hybrids (+44.1%) and electric car sales are up 16.3% to 20.511 and 1.2% share.

The Renault Captur is up 34% year-on-year thanks to its facelift. Picture largus.fr 

In the brands ranking, Renault remains in the lead but for just 377 sales, up 17.4% to 18.5% share vs. +19.1% and 18.3% for Peugeot. Renault’s private sales are up 12.5% and its fleet sales are up 25%. Peugeot sees its company sales shoot up 26.7% and long term rental sales up 79% for a total of 11.500 fleet sales (or 35.6% of its total sales) vs. 11.450 for Renault. Peugeot’s private sales are up 17% and demo sales are down 21.8% for a rather healthy mix this month. Surprisingly, Citroen is struggling again, going against the grain with a 1.6% decline to a weak 9.3% share, with private sales up an atone 0.8%. Volkswagen also underperforms at +3.6% with private sales down 4.1% to fall below Toyota’s at 5.200 vs. 5.600 (+25.6% for the Japanese manufacturer). Dacia trails the market at a still reasonable +11.6% with Toyota (+23.3%), Ford (+15.9%) and Opel (+26.7%) very solid. Audi returns to the #1 premium position at #9 but only gains 7.5% vs. +12.1% for Mercedes (#11) and +11.5% for BMW (#12). Hyundai (+23.8%), Skoda (+25.2%), Nissan (+25.7%), Mini (+26.4%) and Suzuki (+38.5%) are the other great gainers in the Top 20. Further down, Tesla is up 89.8%.

First Top 20 ranking at home for the Citroen C3 Aircross. Picture largus.fr

Over in the models ranking the Renault Clio (+11%) and Peugeot 208 (+10%) remain in the lead albeit with gains below market, while the Peugeot 3008 II gains two spots to return to the 3rd place it holds year-to-date with 3.8% share. The Citroen C3 III is back up four ranks on September to #4 (49% private sales and 17% demo sales), ahead of the Peugeot 2008 (+8%) and Renault Captur (+36%). Note the Peugeot 5008 is up 261% to #18, with combined 3008/5008 sales adding up to 9.105 which would earn it a 2nd place overall below just the Clio and above all other Peugeots. The 3008 is #2 in the fleet ranking with 3.400 sales vs. 3.600 for the Clio, with the three Peugeot crossovers (2008, 3008, 5008) adding up to 45% of the brand’s sales this month. According to Peugeot, there is no cannibalisation between the 3008 and 5008, these two nameplates being conquest cars with 50% of buyers coming from other brands’ SUVs for the 3008 and MPVs or station wagons for the 5008.

The new Alpine A110 registers its very first sale at home this month.

The Peugeot 308 (+1%) and Renault Megane (-3%) are stable while the Dacia Sandero (+17%) continues to shine (but is down to #3 in the October private sales ranking below the Clio and 208) and the Renault Scenic IV is back inside the Top 10. The VW Golf soars 26% to top foreign nameplates at #11 ahead of the Toyota Yaris (#12) while the VW Polo (-15%) is still handicapped by its generation changeover: 34% are new gen demo sales. Finally, the Citroen C3 Aircross breaks into the French Top 20 for the first time, with 46% being private sales and 45% demo sales. All in all, the Citroen C3 (1.050), Citroen C3 Aircross (970) and new gen VW Polo (890) dominate the demo sales ranking. Outside the Top 20, notice the Nissan Qashqai up 46%, the Opel Corsa up 32%, the Ford Kuga up 76% and the Nissan Micra up 75%. The Hyundai Kona lands at #103, the Seat Arona at #147 and revived brand Alpine registers its very first sale of the new A110 at home this month.

Previous month: France September 2017: Best September since 2009 but up a shy 1.1%

One year ago: France October 2016: New generation Peugeot 3008 above Duster and Kadjar

Full October 2017 Top 33 brands, Top 270 models and Top 10 private sales below.