France 2009: Peugeot 207 leads, Renault Twingo up to #3

Renault Twingo

* See the Top 320 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

Boosted by government subsidies and scrappage schemes, the French car market is up 11% in 2009 with 2,268,730 registrations, its best year since 1990! The Peugeot 207 is the best-selling car in the country for the third consecutive year but sees its market share drop from 6.6% to 5.8% with 131,333 sales. At #2 the Renault Clio III drops from 6.3% to 5.6% at 126,167 units.

Renault Megane

A big beneficiary of scrappage schemes, the new Renault Twingo is up 64% and 3 spots to #3 with 107,361 sales and 4.7%. For the first time in the 16 year history of the Twingo nameplate, it ranked #1 overall in March (6.5%) and April (5.4%). The Peugeot 308 slips out of the podium to #4 while the new generation Renault Megane is up 68% to #5 and peaked at 4.4% share in September. The Scenic, also renewed this year, ranks #6, peaking at #3 and 5% in September.

Peugeot 107

The Dacia Sandero breaks into the monthly Top 10 in July and beats the Logan’s best scores by reaching an excellent 6th position at 3% share in August. It ends the year at #14. The Ford Fiesta is the best-selling foreign model at #10 and 2.2% overall (+33%) but the VW Polo (#11) delivers this year’s import best at #7 and 3.2% in April.

Other notable 2009 events include the arrival in the monthly Top 10 of the Peugeot 107 (#9 at 2.7% in August) and Citroen C1 (#10 at 2.3% in April) and the launch of the Citroen C3 Picasso, peaking at #12 and 2.1% in November, and Peugeot 3008 up to #13 and 1.8% in October.

Full Year Top 320 and each Monthly Top 30 Ranking Table below.