New Caledonia (France) September 2020: FAW Bestune X40 in Top 5, Changan Kaicene F70 #15, market up 28.1%

The Kaicene F70 is already making a splash in New Caledonia.

New car sales in New Caledonia, an overseas French archipelago located north-east of Australia, continue on their positive post-pandemic run, celebrating five straight months of year-on-year gains in September at +28.2% to 801 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 6.9% to 5.915. Toyota (+1.3%) easily remains in the brands lead at 18.9% share even though it significantly trails the market. Dacia (+87%) on the other end is on fire at #2 and 12.6% share vs. 10.6% so fa this year, while Ford (+28.3%) matches the market and climbs 3 spots on August to #3. Volkswagen (+154.5%) and Renault (+97.1%) also post surreal upticks in the remainder of the Top 10 but the hero of the month is Chinese carmaker FAW, not sold in Metropolitan France, up 11 spots on last month to brilliantly break into the New Caledonian Top 10 for only its 2nd month in market with 3.6% share. Two additional Chinese brands rank within in the Top 15: MG is up 3 to #14 and Changan Kaicene lands at #15, meaning the Chinese hold 7.7% share in September.

Model-wise, the Toyota Hilux (+28.3%) is back above the Dacia Duster (+114.3%) – but the latter remains #1 YTD – with the Ford Ranger (-2.1%) and Dacia Sandero (+89.5%) in tow. The FAW Bestune X40 spectacularly breaks int the Top 5 with 3.6% share, distancing the Renault Clio (+460%), Toyota RAV4 (+47.1%), Peugeot 2008 (+380%) and Toyota Yaris (+216.7%). The MG ZS is up 6 spots on August to #14 and the Changan Kaicene F70 lands at #15. The F70 is also not available in Metropolitan France, it is marketed under a new brand, Kaicene, in the New Caledonian market with an emphasis on the fact that it is the result of a joint-venture between Peugeot and Changan.  The Kaicene F70 has outlandish ambitions for this market: dethroning the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger to become the #1 pickup truck…

Previous month: New Caledonia (France) August 2020: FAW Bestune X40 inside Top 20 in market up 4.6%

One year ago: New Caledonia (France) August-September 2019: Toyota (+25.2%) holds 23.8% share, places Hilux #1, C-HR #4 and Rush #15

Full September 2020 Top 35 All-brands and Top 25 models below.