France July 2012 UPDATE: Peugeot 208 already in pole position!

Peugeot 208

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 327 best-selling models! Click on title to see *

Thanks to STAC I can now share with you actuals for July 2012 in France and there is a big change in store for you! The sky is getting darker for new car sales in France with July down 7% year-on-year to 148,924 registrations in spite of 2 more working days in the month. The year-to-date total stands at 1,197,906 units, down a worrying 13% on 2011.

While the 4th generation Renault Clio was unveiled at the start of the month, July 2012 ends up being a historical month in France, with the Peugeot 208 shooting directly up to the pole position of the models ranking for the  very first time, up 4 spots on June to 7,115 sales and 4.8% share vs. 6,830 and 4.6% for the Clio. The next couple of months will be fascinating to follow as we will see the battle between the new gen Clio and 208 intensify…

Orders are open since July 15 in France for the Renault Clio 4

The Citroen C3 is stable at #3 with 3.4% share, just above the Renault Megane (3.2%) and Scenic (2.9%). Another excellent month for the VW Polo, up one spot on June to #6 with 3,915 sales and 2.6%. It is now #7 year-to-date at 2.4%. The Dacia Duster delivers its best score since last November, up 6 ranks to #7 with 3,496 units and 2.3% while the Sandero is also up 6 to #13.

Dacia Lodgy

The Nissan Qashqai reaches its highest ever ranking in France at a brilliant 14th place thanks to 2,614 sales and 1.8% share, while the Peugeot 508 hits its 2nd highest position after July 2011 (#13), up 7 spots to #15 with 2,361 units and 1.6%. The Dacia Lodgy is up 12 spots to break into the French Top 20 for the very first time at #17 with 2,272 sales and 1.5%. Another model breaks into the French Top 20 for the first time this month: the VW Tiguan up 11 ranks to #20 with 2,166 units and 1.5%.

VW Tiguan

Notice also the VW Touran up 13 spots to #27, the BMW 1 Series up 8 to #39, the Kia Rio up 12 to break into the Top 50 for the 2nd time in the last 6 months at a best-ever #47, the Citroen DS5 in the Top 50 for the 6th consecutive month at #49, the Kia Sportage up to a best-ever #52 and the Audi Q3 up a massive 24 spots to a record #53. The Peugeot 301 is up to #183 with 67 sales, the Ford B-Max lands directly at #216 at 37 units and the Renault Zoe ranks #280 with 7 sales.

Previous post: France 1-9 July 2012: Citroen C3, Peugeot 208 and VW Polo lead

Previous month: France June 2012: Dacia Lodgy in Top 30, Peugeot 301 and Dacia Dokker land

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One year ago: France July 2011: Heavily promoted Renault Clio takes off

Full July 2012 Top 327 Ranking Table below.