Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Only 3 weeks after launch, the Peugeot 2008 already ranks within the French Top 10.

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and brands by clicking on the title! *

A relatively satisfying start of June for new car sales in France, down just 3% year-on-year to 51,431 registrations. We are now getting used to solid starts for the Peugeot 208 each month and June is no exception: it ranks #1 with 2,373 sales and 4.6% share, however the #2 is a surprise: after ranking #3 27 days into May and finishing the month at #6, the Citroen C4 shines once again at 1,777 units and 3.5%, up 61% year-on-year. The Renault Clio 4 rounds up the podium at only 3.3% share but despair not: Renault models are always slow at the start of the month in France.

The Citroen C4 ranks #2.

I could go on to describe each position meticulously but I won’t because the big event this week is the thunderous arrival of the Peugeot 2008 inside the French Top 10 directly in 7th position with 1,188 sales and 2.3% share. We were expecting its archenemy the Renault Captur, launched one month earlier, to have the honours of first breaking into the Top 10 after finishing #13 in May. But instead the Peugeot 2008 does so only 3 weeks after its official launch on May 16… A very impressive performance indeed for the first mini-SUV the company has ever launched and a very welcome piece of good news in what has been a pretty drab year for Peugeot so far: with 16,000 orders so far, Peugeot has announced it will double the production rate of the 2008 from 5,000 a month to 10,000 in September…

The Hybrid version pushes the locally-produced Toyota Yaris inside the Top 10.

Needless to say that between the Peugeot 208/Renault Clio IV and Peugeot 2008/Renault Captur fights, 2013 will be another fascinating year to follow in France… Notice also the VW Polo up to #4 and the Toyota Yaris inside the Top 10 at #10 thanks to the hybrid version. Brand-wise, Citroen outstandingly (but most probably temporarily) starts the month in pole position thanks to sales up 15% year-on-year, Toyota is up 27% to #5, Ford up 12% to #7 and Fiat up a mammoth 96% to #10 thanks to the success of the 500L.

Previous month: France May 2013: Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 intrigue

Previous weekly update: France 1-27 May 2013: Citroen C4 and Dacia Sandero up

One year ago: France 1-11 June 2012: Renault Scenic in pole position

Full 1-11 June 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

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The Renault Captur is already knocking at the French Top 10′s door…

* NOW UPDATED with ACTUALS for the Top 100  models and Top 20 brands! See title *

Compared to the rest of 2013, the French market is not getting worse, but it’s not getting any better either at -10% year-on-year in May to 148,554 registrations, the lowest May figure since 1999. The year-to-date total now stands at 740,185 units, down 12% or 100,000 units on 2012. After 3 consecutive months of Renault Clio IV reign and after missing the pole position for just 3 sales last month, the Peugeot 208 is the most popular model in France in May thanks to an excellent 9,166 sales and 6.2% share vs. 7,315 and 4.9% for the Clio IV. This is the 7th time the 208 leads the French models ranking and its 2nd best market share ever in the country below the 6.4% it reached last August. More importantly for Peugeot, the 208 sales mix significantly skewed towards premium versions, with an average price of 18,300 euros even before the launch of the top of the range GTI and XY versions. This is 4,000 euros higher than the segment average and to be compared to 14,300 euros for the 207 at the same time last year.

The Nissan Qashqai is inside the French Top 10 for the 2nd time ever.

Far below the two stars of the market, the Renault Scenic remains in third place at 2.7% while the Dacia Sandero is up 4 ranks to an excellent 4th position at 3,590 units and 2.4%. Thanks to 3,439 sales and 2.3%, the Citroen C4 is up 3 ranks to reach the nameplate’s highest ever ranking at #6, a position it last held over 6 years ago in February 2007! Another exceptional month delivered by the Nissan Qashqai: it is up 9 ranks on last month to lodge its 2nd ever month within the Top 10 after last March at #10 with 3,131 units and 2.1% and its first month as the best-selling foreign model (the VW Golf VII and Polo are outside the Top 10). The Qashqai therefore equals the 2 months the Toyota Yaris spent inside the French Top 10 in January and March 2007.

The Peugeot 2008 makes its first appearance in the Top 30 this month.

Potentially the reason behind the weaker Clio IV performance this month, its small SUV brother the Renault Captur is up a fantastic 9 ranks on April to #13 with 2,660 sales and 1.8%. The Captur is already only 500 units away from the Top 10 which it should break into within the next couple of months. The waiting time for a new Captur is 4 months, with current orders delivered in September. Its Peugeot competitor the 2008 is also starting to make waves: it is up 38 spots to break into the French Top 50, 40 and 30 for the first time at #27 with 1,646 units and 1.1% share. The 2008 goes officially on sale in June and has received 9,000 orders so far so we should see it climb up the ladder further in the coming months.

Chevrolet Trax

In other news, the BMW 3 Series is up 7 ranks on last month to #28, the Audi A3 is up one further spot to #29, the Toyota RAV4 up 29 to #54, Opel Adam up 23 to #77, Renault Zoe down 24 to #83, Mercedes CLA up 9 to #86 and the Chevrolet Trax breaks into the French Top 100 for the first time at #97 with 326 sales and already above its twin the Opel Mokka at 238 units…

Previous post: France 1-27 May 2013: Citroen C4 and Dacia Sandero up

Previous month: France April 2013: 3 units separate Renault Clio IV and Peugeot 208!

One year ago: France May 2012: Podium 100% Renault for the first time in 14 years

Full May 2013 Top 100 models and Top 20 models Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Fiat Ducato

* See the Top 60 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Sales of new Light Commercial Vehicles evolve very similarly to the Passenger Cars market in France this month: down 11% to 28,298 registrations, which brings the year-to-date total to 153,488 units, down 9% on 2012. When the Fiat Ducato brilliantly took the lead of the LCV sales charts last March and became the very first import to to do so in the history of automobile in France, you could have been forgiven for thinking it would remain an isolated one-off. Not so. And we may have to get used to it. The Ducato renews this incredible feat this month and ranks #1 for the 2nd time ever thank to 2,347 sales and 8.3% share.

Renault Kangoo

The Renault Kangoo is down to a horrid 4th place at 1,556 units and 5.5% but holds onto its 2013 year-to-date pole position at 12,823 sales and 8.4% vs. 11.602 and 7.6% for the Ducato. The possible explanation for the Kangoo’s unusually weak month: the facelifted model is only hitting dealerships now. The rest of the year will nevertheless be fascinating to follow. Other notable performances this month include the Renault Master up to 2nd place with 6.9% share, the Mercedes Sprinter up 3 spots to #10, Dacia Dokker stable at a best-ever #32 and the Mercedes Citan reaching a record 37th place.

Previous month: France LCV April 2013: Fiat Ducato hits highest share but ranks #2

One year ago:

Full May 2013 Top 60 Ranking Table below.

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Citroen C4

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and brands by clicking on the title! *

After 27 days in May, the French new car market is down 11% to 104,150 registrations. The Peugeot 208 is still in the lead thanks to 6,244 sales and 6% share, well ahead of the Renault Clio IV at 4,644 units and 4.5%. The Citroen C4 brilliantly gains one rank compared to last week to take the third spot with 2,696 sales and 2.6%, up 6% year-on-year. If it holds this ranking until the end of the month it will be the C4 nameplate’s very first podium finish since its original launch in November 2004, beating the #6 it reached in October 2005, August 2006 and February 2007. The Dacia Sandero is also up one spot to #4 at 2,555 units and 2.5%, up 51% year-on-year, followed by the Peugeot 3008 (-8%) and Citroen C3 (-36%).

Full 1-27 May 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

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Will the new gen Peugeot 3008 (China version above) push it up further?

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and brands by clicking on the title! *

You can research this car on the new carhoots.com site

The situation is getting a tiny bit better in France: from -20% year-on-year as at 13 May it is now down 15% after 18 days to 63,460 registrations, still not great however, granted. The Peugeot 208 holds onto its pole position for now thanks to 4,114 sales and 6.5%, a full two percentage points above its archenemy the Renault Clio IV at 2,862 units. But as you all know by now Renault has the habit of delaying the bulk of its sales up until the last few days of the month so all is not lost yet for the Clio…

Citroen C4

The Peugeot 3008 holds extremely well in third position with 1,655 sales and 2.6% share: if held until the end of the month (unlikely) it would be a new ranking record in the country for the model. The Citroen C4 also holds at sky-high levels in 4th place at 1,577 units and 2.5% as does the Dacia Sandero at #5 with 1,535 sales and 2.4%. Now that its Aulnay factory is freed from strikes, the Citroen C3 creeps back up to #6, while the VW Golf  VII shines at #8 and the Nissan Qashqai keeps on giving at #9, up 12% year-on-year…

Previous post: France 1-13 May 2013: Citroen C3 Picasso in Top 10

One year ago: France May 2012: Podium 100% Renault for the first time in 14 years

Full 1-18 May 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

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Citroen C3 Picasso

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and brands by clicking on the title! *

More bad news for the new car market in France: after 13 days May is down 20% year-on-year to 34,868 registrations even though May 2012 was already down 16% on the previous year… No sign of recovery yet, that’s for sure. In this depressed context, the Peugeot 208 is by far the most popular model over the period with 2,588 sales and 7.4% vs. 1,461 and 4.2% for the Renault Clio IV however as we have seen in the last few months this is no guarantee that the 208 will finish the month in the lead. The Peugeot 3008 climbs onto the podium potentially for the first time ever which is rather odd given the facelifted version will be on sale shortly.

Dacia Sandero

In fact it’s not just the 3008 but the entire models ranking that undergoes a facelift: the Citroen C4 is up to an exceptional 4th place thanks to 921 sales and 2.6% share, up 15% year-on-year, the Dacia Sandero is up 53% to #5 at 868 units and 2.5%, the VW Golf 7 shines at #6 with 865 sales and 2.5% and the Nissan Qashqai impresses at #9 and 804 units but the best performer over the period is without contest the Citroen C3 Picasso up a whopping 125% year-on-year to #8 with 833 sales and 2.3%, to my knowledge its first time within the French Top 10 and in the process passing the Citroen C3 (#10) for the very first time…

Previous month: France April 2013: 3 units separate Renault Clio IV and Peugeot 208!

One year ago: France May 2012: Podium 100% Renault for the first time in 14 years

Full 1-13 May 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Peugeot 208 T16. The 208 misses the pole position for just 3 sales this month.

* See the Top 100 best-selling models and Top 18 brands by clicking on the title! *

The French new car market seems to slow down its fall in April at -5% to 157,859 registrations, however this is compared to the worst April in 15 years last year, and with one additional working day this year the drop is actually equivalent to 10% which is in line with the first 3 months of 2013. Year-to-date, the market is down 12% to 591,741 units and we are now looking at a Full Year 2013 total of 1.75 million units, the worst year since 1997. We knew the fight between the Renault Clio 4 and Peugeot 208 would be close but this month possibly delivers the smallest gap between #1 and #2 in France ever: at 9,461 units, the Clio 4′s advantage over  the 208 is only 3 sales! Both models hold a solid 6% market share, more than double any other car in the market.

Renault Captur

The VW Golf benefits fully from the new model at an excellent 7th place, up 35% year-on-year to 3,637 units and 2.3% while the Dacia Sandero is back within the French Top 10 for the third time in the last 5 months at #8 with 3,328 sales and 2.1%. Notice also the Citroen DS3 up 9 ranks to #11 and the Citroen C3 Picasso up 6 to #15. The Renault Captur continues to climb the ladder, up a further 13 spots on March to land just outside the Top 20 at #22 with 1,934 units and 1.2%.

Peugeot 2008

Further down, the Audi A3 is up 3 ranks to #30, the BMW 3 Series is up 12 to #35, Seat Leon up 30 to #45, Kia Sportage up 12 to #47, Renault Zoe down 19 to #59, Dacia Dokker is up 16 to #61 and the new gen Kia Carens appears at #80. Finally the Peugeot 2008 breaks into the French Top 100 for the first time, landing directly in 65th position with 688 sales and 0.4% share.

Previous post: France 1-22 April 2013: Citroen C4 Picasso back in Top 10

Previous month: France March 2013: Nissan Qashqai in Top 10! Renault Captur #35!

One year ago: France April 2012: Peugeot 208 in Top 10, Dacia Lodgy lands

Full April 2013 Top 100 models and Top 18 brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Fiat Ducato

* See the Top 60 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Sales of new Light Commercial Vehicles are down 5% year-on-year in France in April to 32,749 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 125,215 units, down 9% on 2012. After making history last month by being the very first import model to take the lead of a monthly LCV models ranking in France, the Fiat Ducato is back down to #2 in April, however it improves its market share to a best-ever 9.3% thanks to 3,052 sales! The Renault Kangoo is back in pole position at 3,256 units and 9.9% while the Renault Master rounds up the podium with 2,172 sales and 6.6%.

This month the CCFA is splitting different generations of each model for the first time, as well as Megane/Scenic, C3/C3 Picasso etc which means there are a few adjustments in the ranking. The Peugeot 208 is now #5 year-to-date ahead of the Renault Clio III at #8 and the Clio IV at #9. Finally notice the Ford Transit Custom and Dacia Dokker both up 4 ranks to #24 and #32 respectively.

Previous month: France LCV March 2013: Fiat Ducato first import to ever rank #1!

One year ago: France LCV April 2012: Fiat Ducato hits highest share ever

Full April 2013 Top 60 Ranking Table below.

Read more…

Citroen C4 Picasso

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and brands by clicking on the title! *

The French new car market maintains itself at a dull -8% year-on-year over the first 22 days of April at 100,18o registrations. Renault is back on top of the manufacturers ranking albeit only 10 units above Peugeot at 15,895 sales. The Peugeot 208 is still in the lead with 6,066 sales and 6.1% but this may not be enough to keep the Renault Clio 4 at bay by the end of the month: it is #2 at 5,066 units and 5.1%, including 2,279 over the last week vs. 1,938 for the 208.

The Citroen C3 remains on the third spot of the podium thanks to 2,626 sales and 2.6%, followed by the Renault Scenic at 2.5% and the Peugeot 3008 at 2.4%. The VW Golf is strong again at #7 with 2,232 units and 2.2% while the Citroen C4 Picasso, potentially boosted by rebates on the previous generation and the arrival of the controversially-designed new gen in dealerships, is back in the Top 10 for the first time since last October at #10 with 1,941 sales and 1.9%.

Previous post: France 1-15 April 2013: Peugeot 208 back on top, Citroen DS3 #8

Previous month: France March 2013: Nissan Qashqai in Top 10! Renault Captur #35!

One year ago: France 1-23 April 2012: Peugeot 3008 up to #4

Full 1-22 April 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Citroen DS3

* See the Top 10 best-sellling models and brands by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in France slow down their fall to a still very inconvenient -8% year-on-year over the first half of April to 64,000 registrations. Humiliated by the Renault Clio 4 in March, the Peugeot 208 is back in charge over the period with 4,128 sales and 6.5% vs. 2,787 and 4.4% for the Clio 4. The Citroen C3 is back inside the podium at #3 with 1,900 units and 3%, however still down 36% year-on-year.

The Peugeot 3008 is holding extremely well at #4 with 1,606 sales and 2.5%, but even more impressive is the VW Golf only 2 units below at #5 and beating all French models in its category: the Citroen C4 is #7, the Renault Megane #9 and the Peugeot 308 is out of the Top 10! Finally let’s salute the return in the Top 10 of the Citroen DS3 after a 6 month-absence at #8 with 1,343 units and 2.1%. Brand-wise, Toyota shines at #5 with 2,992 sales and 4.7%, up 10% year-on-year, Audi ranks #7, Nissan is up 7% to #8 and Opel up 25% to #9.

Previous month: France March 2013: Nissan Qashqai in Top 10! Renault Captur #35!

One year ago: France 11-16 April 2012: Peugeot 208 and 5008 in Top 10

Full mid-April 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

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