France 1954: Renault 4 CV holds onto top spot, Simca 9 Aronde up to #2

The Simca 9 Aronde is up 47.3% to #2 in France in 1954.

The new car market in France jumps up 17.9% year-on-year in 1954 to 458.198 units including commercial vehicles, a new all-time record. Renault (+19.1%) can breathe a little easier as it widens the gap with #2 Citroen (+13.6%) from just 3.5 points of market share in 1953 to 4.9% this year at 32.1% vs. 27.2%. The Top 7 is unchanged on last year with Peugeot (+7.7%) rounding up the podium ahead of Simca (+50.2%), Ford France (-26.9%), Panhard (+102.7%) and Berliet (+27.3%). Chausson (+1.1%) dislodges Delahaye (-65.8%) from the Top 10.

Model-wise, the Renault 4 CV (+20.9%) continues to gear up and enjoys a 6th consecutive year on top of the French charts, while the Simca 9 Aronde (+47.3%) leaps up two spots on 1953 to land in 2nd place overall, knocking the Peugeot 203 (+3.8%) down to #3. The Citroen 2 CV (+46.6%) is also up one rank to #4 while the Citroen 11 CV Traction Avant (-21%) is down two to #5. The Peugeot 203U (+19.9%) remains the best-selling LCV in France ahead of the Renault R 2060-2160 (+5.9%), Citroen H/HZ (+36.1%) and Simca U (+77%),  all fitting within the Top 10.

Previous year: France 1953: Renault 4CV leads, Citroen up to 28% share, Renault Fregate up to #6

Full Year 1954 Top 23 All-brands and Top 123 All-models vs. Full Year 1953 figures below.