France August 2025: Hyundai (+31%), Citroen (+30.8%) highlight first positive market of the year

Hyundai holds 4% of the French market in August.

19/09 update: Now with Top 54 All brands, Top 316 All models and Top 12 BEV rankings.

First year-on-year uptick of the year for the French new car market, but this happens during the slowest month of the year, August. Sales up 2.2% to 87,850. Keep in mind the year-ago comparison base was particularly weak as August 2024 was the slowest in the past 10 years. Year-to-date volumes remain frankly down at -7.1% to 1,046,432. Private sales drop -3% and fleet sales are down -8% but tactical sales are up, including short term rentals (+49%). SUVs are up 9% to 53% share. 

In August petrol sales implode -32.4% to 18,323 and 20.9% share vs. 31.5% in August 2024, diesel is off -26.9% to 4,289 and 4.9% share vs. 6.8% a year ago, HEVs soar 30% to 39,722 and 45.2% share vs. 35.5% last year. MHEVs are up 53% to 23% share while HEVs are up 12% to 22% share. PHEVs are down -5% to 5,855 and 6.7% share vs. 7.2% and finally BEVs surge 29.3% to 16,992 and 19.3% share vs. 15.3% last year. This is the highest BEV share since last September (20.4%). Note BEVs account for 24% of fleet sales thanks to a 57% year-on-year lift. Meanwhile private BEV sales are down just -1% year-on-year vs. -58% in May, -30% in June and -15% in July. This is thanks to a more favourable subsidies system offering at least 3,100€ off for the purchase of a BEV. Year-to-date BEV sales are down -2.1% to 185,183 but improve their market share from 16.8% to 17.7%.

Citroen catches up on a particularly weak year-ago result.

In the brands ranking, Renault (+7.5%) is very solid at 14.9% share vs. 17.4% so far this year, distancing Peugeot (-1.1%) at 13.4% vs. 14.5% year-to-date. Dacia (-6.4%) stays at #3 but underperforms, albeit with a 9.4% share vs. 9.2% through July. Toyota (-4.6%) is back above Citroen (+30.9%) catching up on a dismal year-ago result. Volkswagen (-10.9%) is stuck in 6th place. Below, BMW (+9.8%), Hyundai (+31%) and Skoda (+11.2%) all post fantastic scores. Note Hyundai reaches its highest French market share since July 2022 at 4% (vs. 4.4% which is still a record). MG (+56%) stays at #15 while Nissan (+71%), Mini (+68.7%) and Cupra (+60.9%) all impress. Tesla craters -47.2% and is down -39.4% year-to-date. Finally BYD shoots up 792% YoY to reach a record 17th place with 1.5% share.

First Top 40 finish for the BYD Seal U in France.

Looking at the most popular models, after falling to 4.5% share last month, the Renault Clio is back to its traditional level at 6.2% share in August vs. 6.4% year-to-date. The Dacia Sandero (-15.7%) is in difficulty but threepeats at #2 above a worryingly freefalling Peugeot 208 (-27.8%). In contrast the Peugeot 2008 (+38.5%) delivers a splendid score at #4, followed by the Citroen C3 IV and Peugeot 3008 III (+16.4%) ensuring the Top 6 is identical to last month. The Toyota Yaris (+19.8%) is up four spots on July to #7, the nameplate’s highest ranking since last October. The Dacia Duster III (-29.5%), Toyota Yaris Cross (-21%) and Renault Captur (-13.4%) complete the Top 10 in forgettable fashion.

Helped by discounts on the outgoing generation, the Citroen C5 Aircross is up 132.9% to #12. The Renault 5 ranks #13 and is the #1 BEV in the country again, while the Hyundai Tucson (+22.4%) is up to a fantastic 14th place, its 2nd highest below the #13 it reached in July 2021. Having cracked the Top 10 in July, the Dacia Bigster is down to #15 but remains the #1 recent launch above the Citroen C3 Aircross II (#18). Notice also the Renault Symbioz (+192.2%) sunsetting its honeymoon launch period at #17 vs. #10 so far this year. The BYD Seal U (+1854.5%) surges 48 spots to #37 and the new Renault 4 is up 20 ranks to #57. We welcome the Nissan Micra VI at #205 and the Renault Clio VI at #275 even before its official reveal.

Previous month: France July 2025: Registrations off -7.7%, Dacia Bigster breaks into Top 10

One year ago: France August 2024: Market off -24.3% to weakest in 10 years, Skoda, Dacia Duster break records

Full August 2025 Top 54 All brands, Top 216 All models and Top 12 BEV models below.