France 1-18 February 2013: VW Golf still on podium

Could the VW Golf finish the month on the podium for the first time ever in France?

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The French new car market maintains itself at a reasonable -4% year-on-year over the first 18 days of February at 73,153 registrations. Peugeot is still in the lead thanks to sales up 17% to 12,672 units and 17.3% share, followed by Renault at 15.6% (-12%) and Citroen at 14.5% (-20%). Volkswagen continues to impress, up 3% to 7,757 sales and 10.6% while Dacia is up a huge 92% to 4,554 units and 6.2%. Model-wise, the Peugeot 208 is still in pole position with 4,364 sales and 6%, but with only 1,647 units and 4.9% over the last week, it is now threatened by the Renault Clio 4 at #2 with 3,888 sales and 5.3%, including a massive 2,470 and 7.3% in the last week.

Dacia Duster

The VW Golf also impresses and remains in third place thanks to 2,474 units and 3.4%. Chances are it will drop a few ranks by the time February comes to an end but if it does stay there it would be only the 2nd foreign model to manage to rank within the monthly podium in France after the VW Polo… Another brilliant performer over the period is the Dacia Duster: it sells 1,141 units for a 3.4% market share over the last week, bringing its total for February so far to 2,366 and 3.2%, up 91% year-on-year. Here too, if the Duster was to hold this position until the end of the month it would become its new best, with its current record being #5 in November 2011.

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One year ago: France 1-20 February 2013: Renault Clio and Citroen C4 impress

Full 1-18 February 2013 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.