France January 2023: Dacia breaks share record, Sandero repeats at #1 in market up 8.9%

Dacia Sandero sales are up 86.1% year-on-year in January.

21/02 update: Now with Top 300 models.

The French new car market rallies back up 8.9% year-on-year in January to 111,940 units. However keep in mind January 2022 was down a drastic -18.6% on the year prior. In fact, January 2023 is down -16.6% on pre-pandemic January 2020 which was already the weakest January since 2014, so we are still evolving at historically low levels. Petrol sales gain 11.9% year-on-year to 43,343 and 38.7% share vs. 37.7% a year ago, whereas they fell -32% in January 2022. Diesel continues to freefall at -33.4% to 12,558 and 11.2% share vs. 18.3% in January 2022 which was already down -41% on the year prior. HEV gain 12.5% to 26,025 units and 23.3% share vs. 22.5% a year ago, PHEV surge 29.8% to 10,300 and 9.2% share vs. 7.7% and BEV soar 43.4% to 14,649 and 13.1% share vs. 9.9% last year. Note the government aid for BEV is up from 6,000€ to 7,000€ for models under 47,000€ and buyers whose revenue is under 14,089€ and 5,000€ for other buyers.

Peugeot (-13.6%) reclaims the lead in the brands ranking with 15.8% share despite a market-defying fall, whereas Renault (+9.1%) matches the market to 15.3% share. In third place for the third month running and the fifth time in the past 9 months, Dacia (+54.4%) surges ahead to break its all-time market share record at 10.3%, eclipsing its previous best of 10.1% last June. Toyota (+20.6%) is up to a stellar fourth place above Volkswagen (+27.2%) also in outstanding shape this month. The loser of January is Citroen (-22.6%) freefalling year-on-year in a positive market and stuck at a lowest-ever 6th place for the 2nd straight month with 7.3% share. Kia (+2.9%) is up to a best-ever 7th place, also reached in March 2020, October 2021 and October 2022. It distances sister brand Hyundai (-8.5%) at #8. BMW (+24.2%) vastly outpaces the market at #9 while Ford (+8.1%) is up two spots on December to #10. Tesla (+1443.8%), MG (+650.9%), Alfa Romeo (+240.3%), Land Rover (+171.4%) and Lynk & Co (+152.7%) all impress below.

Model-wise, the Dacia Sandero (+86.1%) repeats at #1 and holds 5.9% of the market, its highest share since the record 6.3% it hit in August 2021. The Peugeot 208 (-21.6%) freefalls but manages to remain above its archenemy the Renault Clio (-0.4%), stable. Similarly, the Peugeot 2008 (-17.9%) is back above the Renault Captur (-7.6%). The Citroen C3 (-29.4%) is hit hard at #6 whereas the Peugeot 308 III (+34.5%) is back inside the Top 10 at #7. The Toyota Yaris Cross (+18.5%) is at a best-ever #9, eclipsing its previous ranking record of #10 hit last August. It is the best-selling foreign model in France for the month and was the most produced vehicle in France for 2022. The Toyota Yaris (+133.4%) closes the Top 10 in splendid fashion. Below, the Fiat 500 (+67.4%), VW Polo (+50.1%), Citroen C5 Aircross (+44.9%) and Dacia Spring (+27.9%) all impress. As for recent launches, the Renault Austral is up 10 spots on December to #17, the Renault Megane E-Tech is down two to #18, the Toyota Aygo X also down two to #25 and the MG 4 is up 15 to break into the Top 50 for the first time at #45.

Previous post: France 2022: Market falls -7.8% to lowest in 47 years, Peugeot #1, Dacia #3 above Citroen, Sandero #2 above Clio

One year ago: France January 2022: First Top 10 for the Peugeot 308 III, market down -18.6%

Full January 2023 Top 50 all brands and Top 300 models below.