France July 2021: Sales sink -35.3%, Dacia Sandero repeats at #1, Renault at historic low, Toyota breaks share record

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

5/08 update: Now with Top 295 All-models ranking.

In what is shaping up to be a particularly disastrous month in Europe, French new car sales sink -35.3% year-on-year in July to just 115.713 units. This figure is also down -32.8% on July 2019. The year-to-date tally is now up 16.1% on the same period in 2020 to 1.038.478 but down -22.4% on 2019… The microchip crisis and a July 2020 volume boosted by new incentives are partly to blame here. Just 43.7% of the July volume comes from private sales, a seven percentage point drop on June 2019 and 2020. Petrol sales account for 42.2% of the market this month, diesel is at 22.8% while alternative fuels (BEV, PHEV and HEV) hold 32.4% share.

Brand-wise, Peugeot (-35.7%) follows the market to a solid 18.2% share, in line with its YTD level of 17.8%. Renault (-60.5%) completely implodes to 11.4% market share, believed to be its lowest monthly share since World War II. Its previous low was 13.7% in July 2019 and August 2020. Citroen (-35.2%) closes the podium to 8.9% share vs. 9.7% so far this year. Dacia (-21%) remains in 4th place with a strong 7.8% share (vs. 6.9% YTD), keeping Volkswagen (-9.7%) at bay. In 6th place, Toyota (-21.6%) breaks its French market share to 7.6%, its previous best was 7.2% in January 2020 when it ranked #4. The rest of the Top 10 all outpace the market, with Hyundai (-11.4%) up to #7 and 3.4% share vs. #11 and 2.6% so far in 2021, Audi (-14.5%), Mercedes (-15.6%) and Kia (-29.4%) all gaining share year-on-year. Further down, rare gainers include Maserati (+137.5%), Alpine (+77.4%), MG (+62.5%), Jeep (+54.4%) and Jaguar (+26.4%), while Mini (-2.1%) and Land Rover (-7.2%) limit their fall. Notice also Chinese newcomer Lynk & Co up 8 spots on June to #38.

Over in the models ranking, the Dacia Sandero III repeats at #1 and signs its third ever pole position after last January and last month. It increases its market share from 5% in June to 5.3% this month for a comfortable win over the Peugeot 208 (-44.8%) at 4.6% of its home market. The Peugeot 2008 (-48.9%) climbs back onto the podium at #3 vs. #5 last month, while the Peugeot 3008 (+9.7%) takes advantage of its facelift to rise three spots on June to #4. Below the Citroen C3 (-38.3%), the Toyota Yaris (-32.4%) equals its French ranking record at #6, a spot it also hit back in January 2020. The biggest surprise of the month is the implosion of the Renault Clio (-64.4%) down to a paltry 7th place, its lowest since August 2019 which marked the gearing up of the 5th generation. The VW Polo (+52.9%) rounds out the Top 10 in very dynamic fashion while the Peugeot 5008 (+23.4%) bucks the negative context to climb to a record #11 thanks, like the 3008, to its facelift. The new Citroen C4 celebrates one year in market at #18 while the Renault Arkana is down 12 ranks on June to #30 and the Opel Mokka is up 22 to #48.

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

One year ago: France July 2020: Positive momentum confirmed (+3.8%), Peugeot 208 leads, 2008 hits record 2nd place, outsells Clio

Full July 2021 Top 55 All-brands and Top 295 All-models below.