Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Renault Clio IV

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 120 models and Top 15 brands! Click on title to see *

New car sales in France are down 12% year-on-year in February to 143,366 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 268,164 units, down 13% on 2012. As I predicted in my last update, whereas the Peugeot 208 has led for most of the month it is the Renault Clio IV that finishes February in pole position for only the 2nd time ever after last November thanks to 8,499 sales for a 5.9% market share, its highest so far. The Clio IV even takes the lead in the year-to-date ranking at 15,094 units and 5.6% vs. 14,354 and 5.4% for the Peugeot 208, #2 this month with 7,474 sales and 5.2%. What could have been a historical month for both the VW Golf and Dacia Duster ended up… not being one.

Renault Zoe

Only 89 sales (!) separate the #3, the Renault Scenic from the #7, the VW Golf… In between we have the Renault Megane at #3, the Dacia Duster equalling its highest ranking ever also reached in November 2011 at #5 with 3,996 sales and 2.8%, the Citroen C4 doing the same at #6 with 3,986 units, it also ranked in that position in October 2005, August 2006 and February 2007. Finally the VW Golf, even though it spent most of the most in third place, ends up 7th at 3,984 sales, its highest ranking since last May. Notice also the Renault Twingo back within the Top 10 for the first time since last October at #8.

Toyota Auris

Further down, thanks to the new generation the Toyota Auris is up 15 spots on January to #33, potentially its highest ever ranking in France, the Ford B-Max improves its share to 0.8% thanks to 1,091 sales at #35, the Fiat 500L is up 49 ranks to break into the French Top 50 for the first time at #36, the Opel Mokka is stable at #39, the Citroen C4 Aircross is up 11 to #50, Hyundai i20 up 19 to #53, Hyundai i30 up 16 to #55 and Dacia Dokker down 5 to #78.

Peugeot 2008

A few much anticipated newcomers make their first appearance in the French models ranking this month: the Renault Zoe lands directly at #87 with 440 sales, the Opel Adam ranks #89 at 419 units, the Peugeot 2008 sells 107 demonstration models and the Renault Captur sells 77, in advance of their world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show.

Previous post: France 1-25 February 2013: VW Golf & Dacia Duster on the verge of historical records

Previous month: France January 2013: Now with updated data

One year ago: France February 2012: Mercedes B-Class and Kia Rio impress

Full February 2013 Top 120 models Ranking Table below.

Read more…

VW Golf

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

New car  sales in France seem to stabilise somehow this month, at -6% year-on-year over the first 25 days of February to 110,040 registrations. A lot can still happen in 3 days especially as many manufacturers tend to register sales at the very end of the month but as it stands, there are still a few surprises in the ranking, of the type that should appear at the start of the month but should have returned to normal by now. The first source of suspense is for the pole position, and in this we return to the traditional battle of the Peugeot-Renault superminis: the 208 has been in the lead all the way up to now but its lead has thawed to only 41 units over the Clio 4 at 6,006 sales and 5.5% vs. 5,965 and 5.4%. Over the last week alone, the Clio 4 sold 2,077 units (5.6%) vs. 1,642 (4.5%) for the 208. Chances are the Clio 4 will finish the month at #1 for only the second time ever after last November.

Dacia Duster

The second surprise is to see the VW Golf still holding onto a fantastic third spot with 3,480 sales and 3.2%, up 19% year-on-year and selling 1,006 units last week which placed it at #5 still. If the Golf stays #3, it will become only the 2nd foreign model to rank within the monthly French podium with its lil sis the VW Polo…  The Dacia Duster resists beautifully in 4th position with 3,380 sales and 2.9%, up 69% year-on-year and selling 1,014 units last week (#4). If brought till the end of the month, this would become its highest ever monthly ranking in France, with its current record being #5 in November 2011.

Citroen C4

But wait there’s more: the Citroen C4 ranks 5th with only 3 days left in February, if maintained this would also be its highest ever French monthly ranking, beating the #6 spot it hit in October 2005, August 2006 and February 2007. Notice also the VW Polo still extremely robust at #6, the Renault Scenic up to #7 thanks to 1,154 sales and 3.1% over the last week (#3) and the Renault Twingo back inside the Top 10 for the first time this year at #9.

Previous post: France 1-18 February 2013: VW Golf still on podium

Previous month: France January 2013: Now with updated data

One year ago: France 1-20 February 2013: Renault Clio and Citroen C4 impress

Full 1-25 February 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

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Renault Clio (RS model shown)

* See the Top 80 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The Light Commercial Vehicle market is down 12% year-on-year in France in February to 29,880 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 59,542 units, down 11% on 2012. Surprise on top: boosted by the 4th generation of the model, the Renault Clio manages the snap the pole position away from the Renault Kangoo thanks to 2,427 sales and 8.1% vs. 2,333 and 7.8% for the Kangoo which however remains #1 year-to-date with 5,317 sales and 8.9% vs. 4,618 and 7.8% for the Clio.

The Fiat Ducato is up 4 spots on January to climb back inside the podium at #3 with 1,962 units and 6.6%. Notice also the Renault Trafic up 3 ranks to #5 with 1,713 sales and 5.7%, the Ford Transit Custom up 4 to #33 at 203 units and 0.7%, Mercedes Citan down 4 to #40 with 157 sales and 0.5% and the Dacia Dokker down 6 to #45 at 130 units and 0.4%.

Previous month: France LCV January 2013: Dacia Dokker lands at #39

One year ago: France LCV February 2012: Peugeot Expert in Top 10

Full February 2013 Top 80 Ranking Table below.

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Could the VW Golf finish the month on the podium for the first time ever in France?

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

The French new car market maintains itself at a reasonable -4% year-on-year over the first 18 days of February at 73,153 registrations. Peugeot is still in the lead thanks to sales up 17% to 12,672 units and 17.3% share, followed by Renault at 15.6% (-12%) and Citroen at 14.5% (-20%). Volkswagen continues to impress, up 3% to 7,757 sales and 10.6% while Dacia is up a huge 92% to 4,554 units and 6.2%. Model-wise, the Peugeot 208 is still in pole position with 4,364 sales and 6%, but with only 1,647 units and 4.9% over the last week, it is now threatened by the Renault Clio 4 at #2 with 3,888 sales and 5.3%, including a massive 2,470 and 7.3% in the last week.

Dacia Duster

The VW Golf also impresses and remains in third place thanks to 2,474 units and 3.4%. Chances are it will drop a few ranks by the time February comes to an end but if it does stay there it would be only the 2nd foreign model to manage to rank within the monthly podium in France after the VW Polo… Another brilliant performer over the period is the Dacia Duster: it sells 1,141 units for a 3.4% market share over the last week, bringing its total for February so far to 2,366 and 3.2%, up 91% year-on-year. Here too, if the Duster was to hold this position until the end of the month it would become its new best, with its current record being #5 in November 2011.

Previous post: France 1-11 February 2013: Peugeot 208, VW Polo and Golf on podium

Previous month: France January 2013: Now with updated data

One year ago: France 1-20 February 2013: Renault Clio and Citroen C4 impress

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

Read more…

VW Golf

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

Is the French car market’s decline is over already? Over the first 11 days of February, new car sales in the country are only down 4% year-on-year to 39,539 registrations. As is the tradition, Peugeot starts the month with a bang at 7,575 units and 19.2% (+19%) while Citroen (-18%) and Renault (-19%) dive. Volkswagen lodges another exceptional score at 11.7% share (+8%) with Dacia following at a massive +110%, Toyota #6 with 1,585 sales and 4% and Mercedes up a whopping 48% year-on-year to #9 at 1,060 units and 2.7% share.

Dacia Duster

In the models ranking, the Peugeot 208 reigns supreme with 2,717 sales and an excellent 6.9% share while Volkswagen manages to place its two star models on the podium: the Polo is #2 at 1,466 units and 3.7% with the Golf following only 15 sales below. Strikes handicap sales of the Citroen C3 down to #10 but the C4 is up to a very robust 4th place thanks to 1,422 units and 3.6%, relegating the Renault Clio IV to #5. Notice also the Dacia Duster back in shape at #6 whereas the Sandero is out of the Top 10 for now.

Previous post: France January 2013: Now with updated data

Full Year 2012 post: France Full Year 2012: Now with Top 400 All-models and Top 63 All-brands

One year ago: France 8-13 February 2012: Renault Clio and Citroen C3 shine

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

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Hyundai sales are up 42% year-on-year in France this month.

* See actuals for the Top 105 best-selling models and Top 53 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

There is now more detailed data available for France in January 2013, with actuals for the Top 30 and an All-brands ranking. The Peugeot 3008 is actually ahead of the Citroen C4 at #9 vs. #10, the Citroen C4 Picasso is #13 followed by the Peugeot 207 and Renault Clio Campus and the Toyota Yaris is #16. Brand-wise, in an overall market down 15% year-on-year, let’s salute the performance of Dacia up 10% to #5, Kia up 10% also to #14 and Hyundai up a huge 42% to #15. Toyota is down just 2% to improve its share to 3.8% at #7, Lexus ranks #28 vs. #31 in 2012, Bentley is #38 vs. #44 and Fisker is #40 vs. #50.

Previous post: France January 2013: Mercedes A-Class and Opel Mokka impress

Full Year 2012 post: France Full Year 2012: Last hurrah for the Renault Clio III

Previous month: France December 2012: Dacia Sandero back in Top 10 after 2.5 years

One year ago: France January 2012: VW places Polo #4 and Golf #7

Full January 2013 Top 105 models and Top 53 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Citroen C4 Aircross: success or disappointment?

* See the Top 400 All-models ranking and Top 63 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

Thanks to STAC I can now share with you sales of absolutely every single model sold in France in 2012! The highlights in the Top 50 best-sellers are covered in the original France Full Year 2012 here. Just outside the 50 most popular models, the Citroen DS5 is up 99 spots and 623% to land at #51 with 10,943 sales for its first full year in market, the Kia Sportage is up a solid 42% to #59, the Kia Rio up 152% to #67 (both models broke into the French monthly Top 50 for the first time this year), the Audi Q3 up 634% to #70, VW Up! up 2103% to #72, Hyundai i20 up 115% to #82, Range Rover Evoque up 247% to #89 and Hyundai i30 up 63% to #93. Only one additional newcomer finds its way into the ranking between the #51 and #100 spots: the Citroen C4 Aircross landing at #88 with 5,293 sales which is actually a relatively disappointing performance.

Boosted by end-of-life promotions, the Citroen C6 is up 106% in 2012.

Beyond the Top 100, the new generation VW Beetle is up to #105 for its first full year of sales, the Ford B-Max hasn’t convinced yet and lands at #117, the Hyundai i40 is up a superb 475% to #121, even falling just 10 units short of the Renault Laguna in December, the Volvo V40 lands at #140, the Bollore Blue Car is up 287% to #149, Peugeot iOn up 121% to #153 thanks to slashed prices, the Peugeot 4008 arrives at a weak #154, Citroen C-Zero up 107% to #157 and the Citroen C6 up a surprising 106% to #160 for its last year of activity: production ceased on 19/12/2012 after only 23,384 units were built since launch in 2005.

Ferrari FF. Picture by Jan L, all rights reserved.

Now into prestige cars. The Porsche 911 is up a very healthy 43% year-on-year to #180, BMW 6 Series up 94% to #209, BMW7 Series up 18% to #229, Porsche Boxster up 55% to #241, Mercedes SL up 491% to #254, Lexus GS up 860% to #269, Infiniti M up 103% to #271, Bentley Continental GT/Supersport up 56% to #280, Ferrari FF up 115% to #299, McLaren MP4 up 83% to #327, Lamborghini Aventador up… 1000% to #328, Rolls-Royce Ghost up 50% to #332. Notice also the Chevrolet Camaro up 127% to #218 and the first 12 units of the Ferrari F12 sold, placing it at #343.

Previous France post: France January 2013: Mercedes A-Class and Opel Mokka impress

Original Full Year 2012 post: France Full Year 2011: Last hurrah for the Renault Clio III

Previous year: France Full Year 2011: A Citroen on the podium for the first time since 1985

Full Year 2012 Top 400 All-models and Top 63 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Mercedes A-Class

* See the Top 105 best-selling models and Top 53 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

Painful start of the year for new car sales in France, down 16% year-on-year in January to 124,952 registrations. The Peugeot 208 is in pole position for the 6th time in the last 7 months with 6,890 sales and 5.5%. The Renault Clio IV is not far behind at #2 with 6,595 units and 5.3%, but so far it has only managed to rank first once, last November. The following 3 models replicate the Full Year 2012 ranking: the Citroen C3 at #3, Renault Megane at #4 and Renault Scenic at #5.

Dacia Sandero

After spending most of the month at #4, the Dacia Sandero finally ranks #6 in January with 3,682 sales and 3.9%, or nearly a full percentage point above its December market share. This is the Sandero’s 8th time in the French monthly Top 6 but the first time in 2.5 years. Previous ones are August 2009 (#6), January 2010 (#5), March 2010 (#2), May 2010 (#4), June and July 2010 (#6) and August 2010 (#4).

Opel Mokka

Now that the Peugeot 206+ and Renault Clio Campus are on their last legs, the Peugeot 207, now called 207+, and Renault Clio 3 get a boost, up to #14 and #15 respectively. The Toyota Yaris is in great shape at #16 with 2,218 units and 1.8%, its strongest market share in the country since January 2008. The Mercedes A-Class is up 3 ranks to a best-ever #24, the Citroen DS4 is up 29 ranks to #30, the Ford B-Max up 42 to a record #33 and the Opel Mokka lands directly inside the Top 40 at #39 with 885 sales.

Further down, the Kia Rio is up 30 spots to #47, its highest ever ranking in France also reached last July, the Toyota Auris back within the French Top 50 for the first time since April 2011, up 6 ranks to #48, the Hyundai i30 is up 24 to #71, the Dacia Dokker breaks into the Top 100 for the first time ever, up 35 spots to #73, the VW Coccinelle is up 25 to #78 and the Fiat 500L is up 11 to #85.

Previous post: France 1-28 January 2013: Dacia Sandero resists at #4

Full Year 2012 post: France Full Year 2012: Last hurrah for the Renault Clio III

Previous month: France December 2012: Dacia Sandero back in Top 10 after 2.5 years

One year ago: France January 2012: VW places Polo #4 and Golf #7

Full January 2013 Top 105 models and Top 53 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Dacia Dokker

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

Light Commercial Vehicles sales resist better than Passenger Cars ones in France in January: down ‘only’ 10% year-on-year to 29,733 registrations vs. -15% for the non-commercial segment. The Renault Kangoo is still king of the world here, with 2,984 sales for a round 10% market share this month, followed by the Renault Clio at 7.4% and the Citroen Berlingo at 6.4%. Notice the Peugeot 208 back up to #4 at 1,758 units and 5.9%.

Mercedes Citan

But the big event is a little further down the ranking: we have been waiting for its appearance for a while now and the Dacia Dokker finally emerges at #39 with 168 sales and 0.6% share, figures that should improve drastically over the next few months. Other interesting movements include the Peugeot Bipper up 10 spots on December to #20, the Mercedes Citan at #36 and the Ford Transit Custom at #37.

Previous post: France LCV Full Year 2012: Renault Kangoo marks 15 years on top

Previous month: France LCV December 2012: Mercedes Citan and Ford Transit Custom land

One year ago: France LCV January 2012: Range Rover Evoque and Nissan NV400 land

Full January 2013 Top 100 Ranking Table below.

Read more…

Dacia Sandero

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

Still no sign of improvement for new car sales in France: after 28 days in January, the market is still down 16% year-on-year to 96,919 registrations. Brand-wise, Renault is back above Peugeot at 16.7% share vs. 16.5% with both carmakers improving their market share vs. one week ago while Citroen stays #3 at 14.5%. Volkswagen (9.3%) and Dacia (6.9%) both see their share slip down a bit but remain at very impressive levels. The French market has now totally switched to a Peugeot 208/Renault Clio IV duel, with both best-sellers improving their market share compared to last week to 5.8% and 4.8% respectively.

Impressive one week ago, the Dacia Sandero hangs in there and stays in 4th position with 3,242 sales and 3.3% but should be passed by the Renault Megane by the time final January 2013 figures are released. Still, if it ranks #5 this month it would be the nameplate’s first time in the French monthly Top 5 in 2.5 years and its 5th time overall after January 2010 (#5), March 2010 (#2), May and August 2010 (#4). Finally, notice the VW Polo holding well at #6 and the VW Golf at #8, ahead of both the Citroen C4 and the Peugeot 308…

Previous post: France 1-21 January 2013: Dacia Sandero up to #4

Full Year 2012: France Full Year 2012: Last hurrah for the Renault Clio III

Previous month: France December 2012: Dacia Sandero back in Top 10 after 2.5 years

One year ago: France 17-23 January 2012: Renault back in shape

Full 1-28 January 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

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