France October 2024: Toyota and Skoda break records in disappointing month

Toyota holds a record 9% of the French market in October.

19/11 update: Now with Top 340 All models ranking.

It’s another disappointing month for the French new car market, off -11.1% (like last month) to just 135,529 units, marking the 6th consecutive month of decline. This is a staggering -28.3% below the pre-pandemic score of October 2019 (188,985). Note the fall would be -14.9% at same for same number of selling days. The year-to-date tally is now down -2.8% to 1,401,436. Petrol sales are down -32.7% to 36,399, diesel falls -26.4% to 8,747, HEV is the only propulsion type in positive at +13.3% to 54,800. PHEV drops -26.9% to 10,894 and BEVs fall -18% to 20,901 and 15.4% share vs. 16.7% in October 2023. Year-to-date, BEVs are up 3.4% to 17% share vs. 16% over the same period in 2023.

Renault (-10.4%) keeps the lead of the brands ranking with a slightly improved 15.7% share, in line with the 16% it holds year-to-date. For once Peugeot (-8.7%) fares better at 14.4% share vs. 14% so far this year. Toyota (+19.4%) scores a splendid uptick and gains two spots on September to land on the third step of the podium with 9% share and 12,164 sales. This is the brand’s second incursion inside the French podium alongside October 2022 (#3), a new record share (previous best 8.6% last July) and its 2nd highest ever monthly volume behind the 12,298 it reached last April. Dacia (-13.6%) is in difficulty at #4 but easily holds onto the 3rd spot year-to-date. Volkswagen (+15.6%) posts a fantastic lift at #5 and overtakes Citroen (-35.9%), in freefall again, for the 5th spot year-to-date. BMW (+20.2%) and Skoda (+24%) also defy the plunging market with double-digit gains. Skoda is up two ranks to a record 8th place, only the third time it ranks inside the Top 10. It also breaks its share record at 3.3%.

The Peugeot 208 (+16%) signs a very solid month to reclaim the top spot off the Renault Clio (-11%). This way, the 208 increases its YTD margin over the Clio to a still fragile 1,353 units. The Dacia Sandero (+5.7%) remains in third place with 4.8% share vs. 4.5% so far this year. The Toyota Yaris (+52%) surges to 4th place, a new ranking record eclipsing its previous best of #5 reached in August 2021. This is the highest ranking ever reached by a Japanese model in France. It however doesn’t reach record volumes and share, these being 3,888 (October 2022) and 3.3% (August 2021). The Peugeot 3008 III also hits a new ranking high at #5 while the Dacia Duster III is back up two spots on last month to #8. The VW Tiguan III climbs to a best-ever #13 ahead of the Citroen e-C3 (the #1 BEV for the month) at #14. The Toyota C-HR II is up to #15, the Renault Scenic V up to #16, the Citroen C3 IV up to #18 and the Renault Symbioz up to #19, the latter three’s first outing in the Top 20. The Renault 5 ranks #52 and the Renault Rafale #57.

Previous month: France September 2024: Sales down a concerning 11.1%

One year ago: France October 2023: Market up 21.9% but still down -20% on pre pandemic

Full October 2024 Top 55 All brands, Top 340 All models and Top 20 BEVs below.