France October 2022: Toyota outsells Citroen and Dacia for the first time, market up 5.4%

Toyota ranks at a record #3 in France in October. Picture largus.fr

1/12 update: Now with Top 300 all models.

After a painful 14 straight months of decline, the French new car market confirms it is back on the up by lodging a third consecutive year-on-year uptick in October at +5.4% to 124,982 registrations. However this is down an abysmal -33.9% on pre-pandemic October 2019. The year-to-date volume remains in frank negative at -10.3% year-on-year to 1,237,049 and down -32.4% or almost 600,000 units on the first 10 months of 2019. For the second straight month and the second time ever, BEVs outsell diesel models, but this time by just 21 units. This results in an average CO2 emissions of 100.7g/km, the second lowest ever after last month (98.3).

Petrol sales are up 8.1% year-on-year to 46,061 and 36.9% share vs. 36% a year ago but are down -17.8% year-to-date to 464,575 and 37.6% share vs. 41% over the same period in 2021. Diesel is down -26.4% to 16,845 units and 13.5% share vs. 19.3% in October 2021, and freefalls -33.5% YTD to 199,157 and 16.1% share vs 21.7% last year. HEVs soar 32% to 28,910 and 23.1% share vs. 18.5% a year ago and are up 11.7% year-to-date to 266,872 and 21.6% share vs. 17.3% last year. This figure includes 149,232 full hybrids (+30.7%) and 117,640 mild hybrids (-5.7%). PHEVs edge down -3.6% to 11,108 and 8.9% share vs. 9.7% in October 2021 and are down -12.1% YTD to 99,662 and 8.1% share vs. 8.2% a year ago. Finally BEVs gain 8.2% for the month to 16,866 and 13.5% share vs. 13.1% in October 2021 and surge 28.8% YTD to 157,831 and 12.8% share vs. 8.9% over the same period in 2021.

The Toyota Yaris almost doubles its sales year-on-year in October.

Over in the brands ranking, both Peugeot (-2%) and Renault (-10.1%) can’t catch the market’s growth and post negative year-on-year results but Peugeot’s market share this month is superior to YTD at 16.9% vs. 16.5%. This is not the case for Renault at 14.7% vs. 15.7% YTD. We have a massive event below: Toyota shoots up 55.2% year-on-year to land in third place for the first time, its previous best being #5. It breaks its record share at 8.2% (previous best 7.9% last July) and outsells both Citroen (-13.8%) and Dacia (+3.6%) for the very first time. A very impressive result for the Japanese carmaker whose two best-sellers (Yaris and Yaris Cross) are both produced in France, and which has performed extremely strongly in the first 3 main European markets we have reported so far (Spain, Italy and France). Volkswagen (+45.6%) is also very dynamic but has to settle for the 6th spot it also holds year-to-date. Kia (+5.2%) is up two spots on September to equal its highest ranking at #7, also hit in March 2020 and October 2021. Ford (+52.8%), Audi (+25.6%) and BMW (+12.5%) are also very solid below. Further down and in order of sales, Opel (+55.3%), Tesla (+83.2%), MG (+111%), Cupra (+89.2%), Alfa Romeo (+298.9%) and Lynk & Co (+369%) shine.

Model-wise, the Peugeot 208 shoots up 44.8% to an outstanding 7% share vs. 6.2% so far this year while the Dacia Sandero (+29.7%) is also very dynamic in 2nd place. The Sandero climbs to #2 YTD in the process, toppling the Renault Clio (-29.3%) enduring another forgettable month at #5. The Citroen C3 (-7.5%) is up two ranks on last month to #3 despite a year-on-year drop and the Peugeot 2008, leader a year ago, is hit hard at -42.3%. The Toyota Yaris (+98.1%) almost doubles its sales year-on-year to rise to #6 for the second time in the past 3 months. The Renault Arkana (+44.8%) and Peugeot 308 III (+257.4%) impress in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas the Peugeot 3008 (-16.7%) and Renault Captur (-1.2%) struggle. The new Renault Megane E-Tech is down four spots to slip outside the Top 10 at #13. Notice also the Toyota Yaris Cross (+309.9%), Citroen C5 Aircross (+52.2%) and Renault Twingo (+51.8%) all strong.

Previous month: France September 2022: Peugeot 208 up to 7.2% share, Renault Megane E-Tech in Top 10

One year ago: France October 2021: Peugeot 2008 signs first ever win in sinking market (-30.7%)

Full October 2022 Top 60 all brands and Top 300 all models below.