France April 2012: Peugeot 208 in Top 10, Dacia Lodgy lands

Peugeot 208

* NOW UPDATED with actuals! See the Top 100 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The French car market significantly slows down its fall in April at just -1.6% year-on-year to 166,632 registrations, now that the comparison with a scrappage scheme-boosted Q1 2011 is over. The year-to-date total is down 17.5% to 674,462 units. The Renault Clio leads with 5.1% share ahead of the Renault Megane, Citroen C3 and Peugeot 207 all at 3.4% share which shows the 207 impacted by the arrival of the 208. The Renault Scenic (3.3%) and Peugeot 308 (3%) follow. At 2.9%, the Peugeot 3008 reaches its 2nd strongest market share behind the 3.3% it reached in May 2011.

Dacia Lodgy

With an estimated 3,833 sales and 2.4% the Citroen C4 is up 5 spots to #8, the 2nd generation’s highest ranking ever and the nameplate’s best finish since April 2008. The C4’s record is #6, a position it reached in October 2005, August 2006 and Feb 2007. As expected we welcome the Peugeot 208 in the French monthly Top 10 this month, up 7 ranks on March to #9 with 3,701 units and 2.2%. 19,000 orders have been received since launch including 8,700 in April. The demand for more luxurious finishes (Allure & Feline) is higher than Peugeot expected (50% vs.35%), meaning production lines have had to be tweaked which has slowed deliveries.

Citroen C4

It will be particularly interesting to see how Peugeot handles the transition between the 207 and 208. Further down, the Dacia Duster is up 7 spots on last month to #11 and the Citroen DS3 is at its best since October 2010: up 9 ranks to #14 with 2,745 sales and 1.6%. The Peugeot 5008 also has a killer month: after breaking into the weekly Top 10 for the first time, it ranks #16 with 2,639 units and 1.6%, its highest ranking since July 2011. The VW Tiguan equals its highest ranking at #21 and hits its best-ever market share at 1.3%, double its traditional level in the country!

Citroen C4 Aircross

A few other newcomers hit their highest ranking this month. The prestigious Citroen DS5 continues its progression, up 4 spots to #41 with 1,092 sales and 0.7%, the Citroen C4 Aircross breaks into the Top 50 for the very first time at #50 with 892 units and 0.5%, something the VW Up!, now #57, could achieve in the next couple of months. Notice the Peugeot 4008 growing to 228 units.

Peugeot 4008

The highly anticipated Dacia Lodgy, the first medium MPV under 10,000 euros, is already eating the Renault Scenic for breakfast in all comparos. This month it lands into the French Top 100 for the first time at #67 with 660 sales, just 3 units above the Logan already. 4,500 orders have been received in 2 weeks and a spot in the monthly Top 10 in the near future is almost a certainty. Each Dacia released since Renault has relaunched the brand has done so: the Logan peaked at #7 in December 2007, the Sandero at #2 in March 2010 and the Duster at #5 in November 2011.

Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet delivers its strongest month ever in France with 3,158 sales and 1.9% share. Most of its range is up, with the US brand placing 5 models in the Top 85 for the first time: the Spark up 14 spots on March to #52, the Aveo is down 2 to #75, the Cruze is up 21 to #80 thanks to the hatchback, the Orlando up 12 to #81 and the Captiva is up 10 to #85.

Previous post: France 1-23 April 2012: Peugeot 3008 up to #4

Previous month: France March 2012: Peugeot 208 lands at #16, Nissan impresses

One year ago: France April 2011: Peugeot 207 back on top, 508 in Top 20

Full April 2012 Top 100 Ranking Table below.