France August 2025: Hyundai (+31%), Citroen (+30.8%) highlight first positive market of the year
Hyundai holds 4% of the French market in August.
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. BYD is estimated to gain a whopping 600% year-on-year.
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. Finally the BYD Seal U (+1854.5%) surges 48 spots to #37.
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 25 brands and Top 50 models below.
France August 2025 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Aug-25 | % | /24 | Jul | 2025 | % | /24 | Pos | FY24 |
| 1 | Renault | 13,108 | 14.9% | + 7.5% | 1 | 182,201 | 17.4% | + 1.5% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Peugeot | 11,748 | 13.4% | – 1.1% | 2 | 151,269 | 14.5% | – 4.3% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Dacia | 8,259 | 9.4% | – 6.4% | 3 | 95,967 | 9.2% | – 1.0% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Toyota | 6,459 | 7.4% | – 4.6% | 5 | 72,319 | 6.9% | – 12.8% | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Citroen | 6,353 | 7.2% | + 30.9% | 4 | 75,983 | 7.3% | – 4.0% | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Volkswagen | 5,586 | 6.4% | – 10.9% | 6 | 69,840 | 6.7% | – 6.5% | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | BMW | 3,559 | 4.1% | + 9.8% | 7 | 38,535 | 3.7% | – 8.7% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Hyundai | 3,552 | 4.0% | + 31.0% | 9 | 28,260 | 2.7% | – 4.7% | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | Skoda | 2,890 | 3.3% | + 11.2% | 8 | 31,383 | 3.0% | + 18.1% | 8 | 11 |
| 10 | Audi | 2,563 | 2.9% | – 16.1% | 11 | 29,032 | 2.8% | – 8.1% | 9 | 9 |
| 11 | Kia | 2,365 | 2.7% | + 4.6% | 12 | 22,081 | 2.1% | – 26.2% | 14 | 12 |
| 12 | Mercedes | 2,249 | 2.6% | – 3.3% | 10 | 25,985 | 2.5% | – 17.6% | 11 | 8 |
| 13 | Opel | 2,189 | 2.5% | – 12.3% | 13 | 22,467 | 2.1% | – 27.6% | 13 | 15 |
| 14 | Ford | 1,907 | 2.2% | – 2.3% | 14 | 25,223 | 2.4% | – 18.2% | 12 | 13 |
| 15 | MG | 1,622 | 1.8% | + 56.0% | 15 | 17,107 | 1.6% | + 48.8% | 16 | 18 |
| 16 | Mini | 1,555 | 1.8% | + 68.7% | 16 | 15,604 | 1.5% | + 31.4% | 17 | 22 |
| 17 | Tesla | 1,331 | 1.5% | – 47.2% | 20 | 14,561 | 1.4% | – 39.4% | 18 | 14 |
| 18 | Cupra | 1,231 | 1.4% | + 60.9% | 19 | 14,206 | 1.4% | + 32.1% | 19 | 24 |
| 19 | Nissan | 1,120 | 1.3% | + 71.0% | 17 | 17,471 | 1.7% | – 13.0% | 15 | 17 |
| 20 | Fiat | 1,082 | 1.2% | – 25.8% | 18 | 12,557 | 1.2% | – 49.4% | 21 | 16 |
| 21 | Suzuki | 1,058 | 1.2% | + 4.6% | 21 | 12,771 | 1.2% | – 24.1% | 20 | 19 |
| 22 | BYD (est) | 1,050 | 1.2% | + 600.0% | 24 | 7,492 | 0.7% | + 250.4% | 24 | 30 |
| 23 | Seat | 932 | 1.1% | – 42.9% | 23 | 10,344 | 1.0% | – 34.5% | 22 | 20 |
| 24 | DS | 810 | 0.9% | – 16.1% | 22 | 9,817 | 0.9% | – 22.8% | 23 | 23 |
| 25 | Jeep | 548 | 0.6% | – 27.4% | 26 | 6,649 | 0.6% | – 15.1% | 25 | 25 |
France July 2025 – models:
| Pos | Model | Aug-25 | % | /24 | Jul | 2025 | % | /24 | Pos | FY24 |
| 1 | Renault Clio | 5,407 | 6.2% | + 6.9% | 1 | 66,910 | 6.4% | + 14.2% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Dacia Sandero | 3,687 | 4.2% | – 15.7% | 2 | 44,169 | 4.2% | – 15.5% | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | Peugeot 208 | 3,426 | 3.9% | – 27.8% | 3 | 47,720 | 4.6% | – 21.7% | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Peugeot 2008 | 2,998 | 3.4% | + 38.5% | 4 | 37,572 | 3.6% | + 8.0% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Citroen C3 IV | 2,508 | 2.9% | + 22700.0% | 5 | 37,043 | 3.5% | + 2553.5% | 5 | 21 |
| 6 | Peugeot 3008 III | 2,114 | 2.4% | + 16.4% | 6 | 27,614 | 2.6% | + 182.0% | 6 | 14 |
| 7 | Toyota Yaris | 2,053 | 2.3% | + 19.8% | 11 | 20,641 | 2.0% | – 6.9% | 11 | 8 |
| 8 | Dacia Duster III | 1,882 | 2.1% | – 29.5% | 7 | 26,908 | 2.6% | + 232.8% | 7 | 13 |
| 9 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 1,731 | 2.0% | – 21.0% | 8 | 22,150 | 2.1% | + 4.7% | 9 | 9 |
| 10 | Renault Captur | 1,707 | 1.9% | – 13.4% | 13 | 25,349 | 2.4% | – 21.4% | 8 | 5 |
| 11 | Peugeot 308 | 1,499 | 1.7% | – 19.3% | 9 | 20,091 | 1.9% | – 22.1% | 12 | 7 |
| 12 | Citroen C5 Aircross | 1,460 | 1.7% | + 132.9% | 16 | 13,123 | 1.3% | + 30.1% | 15 | 32 |
| 13 | Renault 5 | 1,412 | 1.6% | + 4769.0% | 12 | 19,197 | 1.8% | + 20541.9% | 13 | 51 |
| 14 | Hyundai Tucson | 1,323 | 1.5% | + 22.4% | 20 | 9,320 | 0.9% | – 10.0% | 28 | 26 |
| 15 | Dacia Bigster | 1,274 | 1.5% | new | 10 | 9,183 | 0.9% | new | 29 | – |
| 16 | VW Polo | 1,195 | 1.4% | – 45.8% | 42 | 14,157 | 1.4% | – 2.4% | 14 | 12 |
| 17 | Renault Symbioz | 1,160 | 1.3% | + 192.2% | 15 | 21,241 | 2.0% | + 2751.1% | 10 | 68 |
| 18 | Citroen C3 Aircross II | 1,122 | 1.3% | new | 14 | 8,459 | 0.8% | new | 31 | 322 |
| 19 | Opel Corsa | 1,048 | 1.2% | – 27.8% | 18 | 11,472 | 1.1% | – 29.3% | 18 | 16 |
| 20 | Mini Hatch | 968 | 1.1% | n/a | 24 | 9,405 | 0.9% | n/a | 26 | 72 |
| 21 | Tesla Model Y | 957 | 1.1% | – 54.4% | 34 | 10,822 | 1.0% | – 27.0% | 21 | 10 |
| 22 | Hyundai Kona | 940 | 1.1% | + 48.0% | 37 | 8,247 | 0.8% | + 4.0% | 33 | 37 |
| 23 | Peugeot 5008 III | 914 | 1.0% | + 631.2% | 17 | 12,141 | 1.2% | + 1536.3% | 17 | 99 |
| 24 | Ford Puma | 896 | 1.0% | + 20.9% | 22 | 10,885 | 1.0% | – 23.5% | 19 | 18 |
| 25 | VW T-Roc | 883 | 1.0% | + 31.8% | 25 | 10,491 | 1.0% | – 11.6% | 23 | 24 |
| 26 | Toyota C-HR II | 854 | 1.0% | + 20.5% | 32 | 9,379 | 0.9% | – 5.6% | 27 | 28 |
| 27 | Dacia Jogger | 774 | 0.9% | – 39.1% | 23 | 10,670 | 1.0% | – 32.1% | 22 | 15 |
| 28 | VW Tiguan III | 773 | 0.9% | – 7.1% | 21 | 9,996 | 1.0% | + 96.3% | 24 | 38 |
| 29 | Toyota Aygo X | 768 | 0.9% | – 18.8% | 33 | 7,926 | 0.8% | – 17.9% | 37 | 33 |
| 30 | Renault Austral | 758 | 0.9% | – 31.7% | 19 | 13,118 | 1.3% | – 26.9% | 16 | 11 |
| 31 | BMW iX1 | 743 | 0.8% | + 64.7% | 26 | 5,213 | 0.5% | – 11.5% | 55 | 55 |
| 32 | BMW Série 1 | 703 | 0.8% | + 339.4% | 43 | 7,988 | 0.8% | + 28.8% | 35 | 47 |
| 33 | Skoda Fabia | 703 | 0.8% | – 0.4% | 28 | 7,728 | 0.7% | + 23.3% | 39 | 49 |
| 34 | Kia Sportage | 683 | 0.8% | – 25.0% | 35 | 5,786 | 0.6% | – 44.5% | 47 | 30 |
| 35 | VW T-Cross | 676 | 0.8% | + 83.7% | 30 | 8,815 | 0.8% | – 2.7% | 30 | 35 |
| 36 | Ford Kuga | 648 | 0.7% | + 29.3% | 36 | 8,074 | 0.8% | + 13.4% | 34 | 41 |
| 37 | BYD Seal U | 645 | 0.7% | + 1854.5% | 85 | 3,028 | 0.3% | + 1536.8% | 78 | 137 |
| 38 | Dacia Spring | 642 | 0.7% | + 605.5% | 75 | 5,018 | 0.5% | + 65.6% | 60 | 87 |
| 39 | Kia Niro | 631 | 0.7% | + 76.8% | 45 | 4,931 | 0.5% | – 12.4% | 61 | 67 |
| 40 | Renault Scenic V | 630 | 0.7% | – 5.7% | 44 | 9,428 | 0.9% | + 151.1% | 25 | 54 |
| 41 | Mercedes GLA | 614 | 0.7% | + 20.4% | 50 | 6,538 | 0.6% | – 1.7% | 42 | 48 |
| 42 | MG ZS | 598 | 0.7% | + 1358.5% | 27 | 7,086 | 0.7% | + 596.8% | 41 | 98 |
| 43 | Citroen C4 | 591 | 0.7% | – 37.9% | 47 | 10,822 | 1.0% | – 16.3% | 20 | 23 |
| 44 | Suzuki Swift | 585 | 0.7% | + 20.9% | 38 | 8,458 | 0.8% | + 21.5% | 32 | 43 |
| 45 | Skoda Elroq | 556 | 0.6% | new | 54 | 3,859 | 0.4% | new | 68 | – |
| 46 | MG 3 | 551 | 0.6% | – 5.8% | 66 | 5,597 | 0.5% | + 144.3% | 49 | 56 |
| 47 | Toyota Corolla | 546 | 0.6% | – 12.9% | 56 | 6,002 | 0.6% | – 32.3% | 45 | 36 |
| 48 | Audi A3 | 542 | 0.6% | + 15.1% | 41 | 5,314 | 0.5% | – 11.4% | 53 | 60 |
| 49 | VW Golf | 537 | 0.6% | – 16.9% | 31 | 7,830 | 0.7% | – 27.3% | 38 | 29 |
| 50 | Mercedes Classe A | 517 | 0.6% | + 75.9% | 58 | 5,415 | 0.5% | + 15.5% | 52 | 70 |
Source: AAA, PFA
