France November 2020: Second lockdown pulls market down -27%, Peugeot, Toyota, Audi resist

The 2008 is back on the podium, helping Peugeot edge past 20% share.

18/12 update: Now with Top 295 All-models.

France was in lockdown again in November, albeit less strict than in Spring. As a result new car sales plunge -27% year-on-year, or -30.7% if looking at daily sales rate as there was an additional working day this year compared to a year ago. Although significant, this month’s market fall isn’t as bad as initially forecast given car dealerships were forced to close but could still deliver orders – that saved volumes from falling as dramatically as they did in  March (-72.2%), April (-88.8%) or May (-50.3%).

According to AAA Data, private sales are stronger this month at 48.2% share while fleet sales drop -9%. The year-to-date tally is now down -26.9% to 1.463.795 units. Although dealerships were allowed to reopen in late November, December volumes shouldn’t return to normal just yet as orders passed during the lockdown won’t likely be fulfilled until January. As a result AAA Data forecasts a 2020 volume around 1.6 million or -28%, the lowest annual result in France since 1975. We are a little more optimistic at 1.63 million (-26%).

According to Autoways, petrol sales plummet -45.6% to just 52.968 and 42% share vs. 56.3% a year ago, diesel fares a little better at -34.9% to 38.403 but also loses share year-on-year at 30.5% vs. 34.2%. Once again the big winners, thanks to generous government incentives, are alternative fuels which account for 27.5% of the French market in November. HEV is up 55.7% to 14.596 and 11.6% share vs. 5.4% a year ago, BEV is up 199.9% to 9.501 and 7.6% share vs. 1.8% and PHEV surges a gigantic 285.7% to 8.994 and 7.1% share vs. 1.3% in November 2019.

In the brands ranking, Peugeot (-19.7%) resists better than the market and gains 1.8 percentage point of share year-on-year to 20.1% vs. 18.6% YTD, the largest gain in the entire market. Renault (-34.8%) on the other hand sees its share drop by 2 percentage points to 16.9% vs. 19% YTD. Citroen (-33.2%) is also in difficulty at 9.1% vs. 10.1% so far this year. Toyota (-10.5%), Audi (-13.5%) and Mercedes (-18.5%) manage the best holds in the Top 10. Below, notice Ssangyong (+336.4%), Tesla (+98.2%), Ferrari (+95.2%), Smart (+30%), Land Rover (+15.2%) and Mini (+1%) posting the only upticks in market this month.

Over in the models ranking, the Peugeot 208 II (+37.3%) easily holds the top spot again, reaching the nameplate’s 2nd highest market share ever at 7.1%, below the 8.9% hit last April and selling almost 1.500 units more than its archenemy the Renault Clio V (-27.2%). The Peugeot 2008 II climbs back onto the podium to replicate its YTD ranking at #3 just as the Citroen C3 (-26.7%) and Dacia Sandero (-14.7%) close out the Top 5, distancing the Renault Captur II (+222%), Peugeot 3008 (-42.9%) and Toyota Yaris (-6.3%). The Renault Zoe (+57.7%) rallies back up 7 spots on October to reclaim a spot in the Top 10 at #9 vs. #10 so far this year. Looking at BEVs only, the Zoe continues to dominate above the Peugeot e-208 (1.257), VW e-Up! (520) and Tesla Model 3 (501). This month we welcome the Suzuki Across at #144, the Dacia Sandero III at #173, the Ferrari Roma at #225, the Aston Martin DBX at #243 and the Dacia Spring at #294 with its very first unit registered in France.

Previous month: France October 2020: Peugeot 208 II widens gap with Renault Clio V in market down -9.5%

One year ago: France October 2019: Market up 8.7%, Peugeot 208 II lands at #12

Full November 2020 Top 50 All-brands and Top 295 All-models below.