France June 2021: Dacia Sandero scores 2nd ever win, Tesla Model 3 up to record #8 in market down -14.7%

The Dacia Sandero is the best-selling vehicle in France in June. Picture largus.fr

22/07 update: Now with Top 310 All-models. The May 2021 post has also been updated with All-models.

If a year ago the French market surprised with a 1.2% uptick as Covid-19 restrictions were loosened and government stimulus were initiated, this time sales are down -14.7% year-on-year to just 199.509 units, and down -13.6% on June 2019. The year-to-date tally is now up 28.9% on the same period in 2020 to 922.766. Private sales sink -31.9% to 83.096 units and account for just 41.6% of the market this month vs. 52.2% in June 2020 and 45.8% in June 2019. Company sales drop -6.8% to 25.780 or 12.9% share vs. 11.8% a year ago, long term leases are up 5.2% to 21.386 units and 10.7% vs. 8.7%, short-term rentals bounce back up 21.2% to 29.170 and 14.6% share vs. 10.3% in June 2020 and demo sales drop -5.5% to 32.203 units and 16.1% share vs. 14.6% a year ago. At 78.260 units, petrol sales are down -35.9% to hold a 39.2% share vs. 52.2% a year ago. Diesel is down -38.9% year-on-year to 40.930 units and 20.5% share vs. 28.7% in June 2020, HEV is up 74.7% to 36.381 units and 18.2% share vs. 8.9% a year ago, PHEV soars 126.3% to 16.482 and 8.3% share vs. 3.1% and BEV crosses the 10% share milestone for the first time in French history at 10.5% vs. 5.9% a year ago thanks to 20.862 sales, up 52% year-on-year.

Over in the brands ranking, Renault (-33.1%) more than doubles the market drop but retains the top spot with 18.4% share, distancing Peugeot (-13.6%) at 14.9%. Halfway through the year, Peugeot (+28.1%) holds onto the top spot above Renault (+4.3%). Citroen (-10.6%) improves its share to 9.4% while Dacia (-10%) also resists well at 7.5% share vs. 6.8% so far this year. Volkswagen (+8.6%) is just 21 units below at #5 thanks to a solid gain. Hyundai (+13.8%), Audi (+10.5%), Fiat (+5.9%) and Toyota (+0.9%) also see their volume improve year-on-year in the remainder of the Top 10. Tesla (+587.1%) sports a surreal gain and misses out on a Top 10 finish by just four sales. Ford (-55.6%), Mercedes (-49.1%) and BMW (-29.4%) all would rather forget June, while further down MG (+713.2%), Jeep (+186.5%), Alpine (+89.2%) and DS (+59.2%) impress and Cupra gains three spots on May to #26.

The Tesla Model 3 is up to #8 overall in France in June.

This month we can share with you exclusive brands data by channel. Private sales see Renault top the charts with 12.589 units and 15.1% share, ahead of Dacia at 10.546 and 12.7% and Peugeot at 9.913 and 11.9%. Company sales has Renault also in the lead with 6.562 units and 25.4% share despite a -38.2% year-on-year drop. It is followed by Peugeot at 6.244 units (+5.7%) and 24.2% share, Citroen at 2.810 (+13.6%) and 10.9% share, Volkswagen at 1.900 and Audi at 1.270. Peugeot (+5.2%) tops the long term leases channel with 4.350 units and 20.3% share ahead of Renault (-16.6%) at 3.025 and 14.1%, Citroen at 1.675 and 7.8%, Toyota at 1.520, Volkswagen at 1.395, BMW at 1.300 and Hyundai at 1.033. Renault (-16.4%) continues to dominate the short-term rental channel with 6.165 units and 21.1% above Citroen at 3.049 (+143.7%), Peugeot at 3.033 (+32.9%), Volkswagen (2.317), Dacia (2.157) and Toyota (2.109). Finally demo sales see Renault (-12.9%) on top with 6.026 units and 18.7% share ahead of Peugeot (+4.5%) at 3.932 and 12.2% share, Citroen at 3.715 (+28.9%) and Volkswagen at 2.676 (-18.7%).

Model-wise, the Dacia Sandero III strikes again, scoring a second ever overall win after last January with a round 5% share. Note the third generation of the nameplate is the only one to have managed a #1 spot in France. The Renault Clio V (-34.3%) drops to 2nd place above the Peugeot 208 II (-8.6%), the latter however retaining the YTD top spot with a 1.057-unit advantage. The Renault Captur II (-12.2%) is up one spot on last month to #4, exchanging positions with the Peugeot 2008 II (-18.4%). The Citroen C3 (-1.3%) follows ahead of the Peugeot 3008 (+14.2%) enjoying the effects of its facelift. The Tesla Model 3 (+706.6%) breaks its volume and ranking records at #8 with 5.001 sales, eclipsing its previous best of #9 hit last March. The Model 3 is also the best-selling foreign model in France in June, distancing the Toyota Yaris (-22.7%) at #10, the Fiat 500 (+58.8%) at #11 and the VW Polo (+5.9%) at #12. The Renault Arkana shoots up 21 spots on May to #18 while the Citroen C4 III is down two to #20.

Looking at EVs only, the Tesla Model 3 leads the way above the Renault Zoe, Peugeot e-208 and Fiat 500e. In the private sales ranking, the Dacia Sandero is even more dominant with 8.212 sales and 9.9% share which is more than double any other nameplate. It is followed by the Peugeot 208 at 3.910 and 4.7% share and the Renault Captur at 3.662 and 4.4%.

Previous month: France May 2021: Renault Clio V and Dacia Sandero III lead market up 46.5% on 2020 but down -27.3% on 2019

One year ago: France June 2020: Government stimulus sparks spectacular recovery (+1.2%) to 2nd highest June volume in history

Full June 2021 Top 55 All-brands, Top 310 All-models and H1 2021 Top 10 EVs below.