France July 2014: C4 Cactus in Top 20 in worst July since 1984

First Top 20 ranking in the world for the Citroen C4 Cactus at #20 at home in France.

* See the Top 80 best-selling models and Top 20 brands by clicking on the title! *

Now updated with final Citroen C4 Cactus sales

The French new car market is definitely not out of recession: down 4% year-on-year in July to a paltry 143,777 registrations, the worst July score in 30 years – since 1984 at 143,481! This brings the year-to-date total to 1,102,529 units, up a shy 3% on 2013 which was the worst year-end result since 1997. Yes, with one less opening day than last year July is in fact up 0.1% seasonally adjusted, but the bad news is the market is pulled down by very weak private sales (-10% to 76,407 units). Peugeot overtakes Renault to grab the lead of the brands ranking for the third time in the past 12 months thanks to 24,887 sales and 17.3% share (-2%) vs. 24,382 and 17% (-3%) for Renault. Below, Citroen does worse than the market at -5%, Volkswagen does better at -1% and Dacia lodges a very unusual -15% year-on-year evolution at 8,254 sales and 5.7%. Notice also Nissan up one spot on June to #6, Audi back up 4 to #7, Toyota down 19%, Mercedes up 32%, Skoda up 18% and Hyundai down 46%.

The Renault Scénic is only 12 sales above the Citroen C4 Picasso.

As usual the Renault Clio IV and Peugeot 208 dominate the models ranking albeit with lower share than year-to-date this month at 5.2% and 4.4% respectively. The Citroen C3 is back up 4 spots to #3 and 3.7% and the Peugeot 308 confirms it is back to its blockbuster status thanks to the new generation and the station wagon model, up one rank on June to #4 and 3.7% share also vs. 3.1% year-to-date.

Volvo XC60

Feeling the counter-effect of a record month of June (2nd place and 4.9% share), the Renault Captur falls down to #5 with just 3% share and 4,366 sales in July. This means it is just 171 units above its archenemy the Peugeot 2008 this month, back up 4 spots to #6 with 4,195 sales and 2.9% of the market. To take stock of the success of the two SUVs at home, let’s notice that Captur sales represent 58% of Clio IV sales in July (60% year-to-date) and the 2008 is at 66% of the 208 (65% year-to-date). There is another tight battle just below: the Renault Scénic is only 12 units above its competitor the Citroen C4 Picasso at #7 and #8 respectively, enabling the latter to overtake the Dacia Sandero and go up one spot in the 2014 ranking to #8 also.

The analysis continues below.

Previous post: France 6 months 2014: Hybrid and electric market share down

Most recent monthly post: France June 2014: Now with Top 300 models and Top 50 brands

One year ago: France July 2013: Dacia Sandero on podium, Renault Captur #5

Full analysis, July 2014 Top 80 models and Top 20 brands Ranking Tables below.