France October 2025: Renault 5 smashes share record, BEVs at 24.4% share

The Renault 5 holds a record 3.3% share at home in October.

07/11 update: Now with Top 54 All brands and Top 323 All models.

According to figures by AAA Data, the French new car market is up for the third month in a row in October but still very shy at +2.9% to 139,513. Note October 2024 was down -11.1% on the year prior. For reference, we are down -26.2% on pre-pandemic October 2019. The launch of the “social leasing” operation, offering extra-low monthly long term leases payments for lower income customers buying BEV models, hasn’t yet boosted the overall market but definitely lifted BEV sales as we’ll see further down. The year-to-date tally remains in negative territory at -5.4% to 1,326,302 and off -27.5% on 2019. Petrol sales freefall -26.5% to 26,742 and 19.2% share vs. 26.9% a year ago, diesel falls -33.7% to 5,807 and 4.2% share vs. 6.5% in October 2024 and PHEVs drop -14.4% to 9,323 and 6.7% share vs. 8% last year. In contrast HEVs are up 7.5% to 58,897 and 42.2% share vs. 40.4% and BEVs surge 63.2% to 34,109 and 24.4% share vs. 15.4% a year ago. Additionally, LPGs are up 15.1% to 4,353. Year-to-date, BEVs are now up 5.2% to 250,731 and 18.9% share vs. 17% over the same period in 2024.

The Renault Symbioz outsells the Captur for the third time.

Renault (+17%) lodges a splendid result, lifted by a couple of recent launches as we’ll see further down. It reaches 17.8% share vs. 17.4% so far this year, which is a great performance for the carmaker, usually weaker as quarters start. Peugeot (-3.5%) and Dacia (-6.4%) disappoint while Citroen (+27.6%) soars on a particularly weak year-ago result when it freefell -35.8% on the year prior. In fact, at 7.2% it equals its YTD share. Volkswagen (-8.2%) struggles at #5, but not as much as Toyota (-23.5%) coming back from a record year-ago score when it held 9% of the market. Skoda (+3.1%) steps up one spot on last month to reach an all time high 7th place. Its distances BMW (-19.4%), Audi (+19.8%) and Hyundai (+5.4%) enjoying varying fortunes. MG grows 86.1% to #13, with Mini (+60.4%), Nissan (+33.4%), Cupra (+25.1%) and Opel (+14.9%) also shining below. BYD lifts 94.7% to #25.

First Top 30 finish for the Renault 4.

Over in the models charts, for once the Peugeot 208 (+1.2%) is the best-seller, and this for the first time since exactly one year ago in October 2024. The Renault Clio (+0.7%) is beaten but remains the year-to-date lease by over 20,000 sales. The Dacia Sandero (-16.8%) is in difficulty but holds onto the third place, only 60 units above a euphoric Peugeot 2008 (+65.2%). The Citroen C3 (+47.5%) is strong at #5 but the performance of the month is without a doubt delivered by the Renault 5, up 482% on year-ago launch results and smashing its record share at 3.3% (previous best 2.5% from last November to January). It also equals its best ever ranking at #6. This performance can be attributed to the launch of a basic variant called Five at 24,990€ before subsidies, as well as the social leasing. Below the Toyota Yaris (-14%) at #7 for the second time in the past three months, another success story is the Renault Symbioz (+87.4%) back inside the Top 10 for the first time since last June and outselling its little brother the Captur (-22.9%), clearly cannibalised. The Citroen C3 Aircross II breaks into the Top 10 for the first time at #8 and the Tesla Model Y is up 40.1%. After breaking into the Top 50 for the first time last month, this time the Renault 4 cracks the Top 30 at #28. The Fiat Grande Panda is up two ranks to #42. The new Nissan Micra VI is up to #168 while the Renault Clio VI is up to #172.

Previous month: France September 2025: BEVs at 22.3% share, Renault 4 (finally) in Top 50

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

Full October 2025 Top 54 All brands and Top 323 All models below.