New Caledonia (France) September 2021: Renault Kwid lands in pole position in market off -38.3%

The Renault Kwid is the best-selling vehicle in New Caledonia in September.

New car sales in New Caledonia, a French archipelago located north-east of Australia, tumble down -38.3% year-on-year in September to 494 registrations, bringing the year-to-date tally up 5.1% to 6.215 units. Renault (+26.1%) goes completely against the grain with a splendid year-on-year lift to the September pole position with 17.6% of the market vs. just 6.8% so far this year. The year-to-date leader Toyota (-50.3%) halves its sales year-on-year but still manages a solid 15.2% share in 2nd place for the month. Peugeot (-19.6%) advances six spots on August to #3 while Hyundai (+61.9%) and Nissan (+181.8%) ignore the depleted context and round out the Top 5. Dacia (-82.2%) and Ford (-70.1%) are hit particularly hard in the remainder of the Top 10. MG (-22.2%) remains at a strong #11, BYD lifts eight ranks to #16 and Geely reappears in the charts at #24.

Model-wise, we have an instant blockbuster atop the charts: the Renault Kwid lands directly in pole position for its first full month of sales on the archipelago with an impressive 8.3% share. Note the Kwid is unavailable in metropolitan France where instead a China-made EV variant is sold as the Dacia Spring. The Kwid topples the year-to-date leader, the Toyota Hilux (-51.9%) while the Renault Clio surges to third place overall with 6.1% share vs. just 1.3% so far this year. The Nissan Navara (+666.7%) is up to #4 while the Ford Ranger (-73.9%) makes it three pickups in the Top 5. The Iveco Daily (+83.3%) and Peugeot 208 (+25%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10.

Previous month: New Caledonia (France) August 2021: Hyundai Grand i10 and Dongfeng Joyear X5 shine in market up 19.9%

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

Full September 2021 Top 35 All-brands and Top 30 models below.