France January 2012: VW places Polo #4, Golf #7, Citroen DS5 up

Citroen DS5

* See the Top 200 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to STAC *

The French car market is down 21% year-on-year in January at 147,143 registrations, but January 2011 was artificially boosted by scrappage scheme deliveries. After a miserable start, the Renault Clio finishes the month in the lead for the 8th consecutive time with 9,249 sales and 6.3% share, the majority of Renault sales traditionally happening during the last week of the month. The Peugeot 207 is #2 at 5.7% and the Citroen C3 #3 at 3.5%, reflecting the 2011 ranking.

VW Polo

Outstanding month for the VW Polo in 4th place with 4,720 sales and 3.2%, it was even #1 during the first week of the year, the first time ever a foreign model did so in France. Even though it is the first time the Polo manages to stay #4 two months in a row (it was at 3.4% share in December), these are not the nameplate’s best ever scores: the Polo’s highest ranking is #3 with 3.8% in December 2008 and its highest market share is 4.3% in May and June 1997. The highest monthly share ever reached by a foreign model in France is 4.9% by the VW Golf in December 1990, however the VW Polo is the only foreign model to ever rank within the French monthly Top 5.

This month Volkswagen also places the Golf at #7 with 4,052 units and 2.8%, 19 units above the Peugeot 308 and its highest ranking since July 2007. It is only the second time in the history of automobile in France that 2 foreign models appear in the French monthly Top 7, the first one being in January 1996 when the Ford Fiesta ranked #6 and the VW Golf #7.

VW Golf

Further down, notice the Dacia Sandero up to #12, its best ranking since December 2010 and the Nissan Qashqai and Juke equalling the best-ever ranking at #16 and #21 respectively. A few other models reach their highest position ever this month: the VW Tiguan is #22 with 1,768 sales and 1.2%, the Citroen DS5 is #57 at 682 units and 0.5%, the Range Rover Evoque is #72 with 476 sales and 0.3%, the Peugeot 208 is #83 at 403 units, mostly dealership models, and the VW Up! is #87 with 367 sales.

Previous post: France 17-23 January 2012: Renault back in shape

Previous year: France Full Year 2011: Renault Clio on top for the first time in 5 years

One year ago: France January 2011: Peugeot 206+ and Citroen new C4 shine

Full January 2012 Top 200 Ranking Table below.