France July 2016: Peugeot #1, Dacia & Mercedes shine, market at -10%

The Peugeot 208 is the best-selling car in France in July. 

* See the Top 45 best-selling brands and Top 270 models by clicking on the title *

With two less selling days than in July 2015, the French new car market stumbles down 10% to 132.999 registrations, meaning a 0.6% dip in daily sale rate. Whichever way you look at it, the market is down though. More bad news, according to the CCFA barometer of orders, these are down 17.5% in July which doesnt bode well for the coming months. The last unhealthy element of the French market is the continuing fall of private sales, down 15% year-on-year in July to 66.291 for a 49.8% market share vs. 53% a year ago. Fleet sales including long-term rentals, the main engine of growth in France so far in 2016, are also down in July at -1% to 33.855. Artificial channels on the other hand display insolent growth: self-registrations (aka manufacturer supply registrations) are up 10% to 3.159 and short-term rentals up 16% to 7.985, meaning that the “true” drop of the overall French market is in fact more substantial. Over the first 7 months of 2016 though, French sales are up 6% to 1.235 million units. Here too the weakening of private sales is clearly visible, falling below 50% for the very first time at 49.84% vs. 59% in 2013, 54% in 2014 and 51% in 2015.

Dacia goes against the negative grain once again and holds 11% of the private sales market.

Because Renault jam-packs June sales with demo vehicles and fleet to meet H1 targets, since 2012 Peugeot has been the best-selling carmaker at home in July and 2015 is no exception, despite deliveries down 12% to 23.573 and 17.7% share vs. 20.399 and 15.3% (-6%) for Renault. Citroen is in great difficulty at -26% to 13.175 sales, plunging below the symbolic 10% market share barrier, as is Volkswagen down 22% to 7% share. Dacia on the other hand dips just 1% to 8.234 and 6.2% share, the brand’s third time above 6% this year along January (6.3%) and April (6.2%). Dacia even hits 11% share with private buyers at 7.295 sales, well above Citroen at 9.5% (6.329) and threatening parent brand Renault at 13.5% (8.395). Year-to-date, Dacia is now teasing Citroen at 10.1% vs. 10.3%. Mercedes gains 10% to stop 100 units short off Audi, BMW is up 7% to #11, Hyundai up 21% to #14, Mini up 17% to #16, Jeep up 3%, Alfa Romeo up 7% thanks to the Giulia, Mazda up 25%, Lexus up 36%, Honda up 42%, Land Rover up 53%, Jaguar up 64% and Infiniti up 192%.

The Seat Ateca lands at #129 in France this month.

The Peugeot 208 is the best-selling car in France for the 5th time in the past 12 months thanks to sales up 1% to 6.656 and 5% share, distancing the year-to-date leader the Renault Clio down 16% to 5.500 and 4.1%. In fact, there is only one other vehicle gaining ground in the Top 10: the Dacia Sandero, going against the grain once again at +6% to 4.262 sales in 5th place. The Peugeot 308 (-19%) and 2008 (-1%) make it three Peugeots in the Top 4, the VW Polo is the only foreigner in the Top 10 at #10, the Renault Kadjar is up 16% to #12, the Megane IV falls back down 9 spots on June to #14 and the Renault Twingo is up 35% to #17.

Further down, the Fiat 500X is up 19% to #24, the Audi A4 is up 92% to #29 thanks to the new model and the VW Touran is up 63% to #30. Among recent launches, the Fiat Tipo is up 22 ranks to #64, the Mercedes GLC is up 32 to #66, the Suzuki Vitara up 14 to #77 and the Infiniti Q30 is up 26 spots on last month to break into the French Top 100 for the very first time at #91. The Kia Niro is up 74 to #139, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is up 28 to #158, the Citroen e-Mehari up 18 to #180. Finally, we welcome the Seat Ateca directly at #129 with 182 sales.

Previous post (1): France 1-11 July 2016: Luxury brands shine in market down 7.5%

Previous post (2): France First Half 2016: Dacia Sandero triumphs with private buyers

Previous month: France June 2016: Renault’s half-year run pulls market up 0.8%

One year ago: France July 2015: Renault down to historically low 14.7% share

Full July 2016 Top 45 brands and Top 270 models below.