France 1980: Renault 5 hits highest share at 16%

Renault 5 (I couldn’t find a proper picture of the 4-door version!)

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

French consumers bought 1,873,202 new cars in 1980. Helped by the launch of the 4 door version in July 1979, the Renault 5 increases its sales to an outstanding 299,712 units, commending a record 16% market share, its highest ever and still to this date (as of 2011) the highest year-end market share reached by a single model in France since 1961 and the Renault Dauphine.

Renault 14

The podium stays unchanged compared to 1979 with the Renault 18 in 2nd position with 157,349 sales and 8.4% share, followed by the Peugeot 305 at 116,138 units and 6.2%. The Peugeot 104 stays 4th at 5.1% and the Citroen GSA is up 4 spots to #5 with 93,660 units and 5% share.

Renault 20

Three more models reach their best ever market share in France this year: the Renault 14 is in 6th place at 4.9% thanks to 91,787 sales, the Renault 20 breaks into the Top 10 in 9th position with 3.4% and 63,689 units and the Renault Fuego is #15 with 39,337 sales and 2.1% share for its first and what will stay its best year of sales.

Full Year 1980 Top 20 Ranking Table: click on ‘Read more’ below the Renault Fuego picture.

Renault Fuego