France February 2026: Citroen C3 best-seller, Renault Clio VI back outside Top 10
The Citroen C3 is the most popular vehicle in France in February.
It’s another horrendous month for new car registrations in France, with February off -14.7% year-on-year to just 120,764 units. The year-to-date tally is now off -11.1% to 227,921. Keep in mind 2025 was the weakest year since 1975, so we are entering even worse territory now. Petrol sales sink -48.1% to 18,206 and 15.1% share vs. 24.8% share a year ago and diesel crashes -53.8% to 3,098 and 2.6% share vs. 4.7^ in February 2025. HEVs drop -16.2% to 52,069 and 43.1% share vs. 43.9% last year, PHEVs edge up 3.2% to 6,655 and 5.5% share vs. 4.6% a year ago. Finally BEVs surge 27.8% to 32,371 and 26.8% share vs. 17.9% in February 2025. Year-to-date, petrol drops -48.5% to 33,532 and 14.7% share vs. 25.4% over the same period in 2025, diesel is off -51.8% to 5,619 and 2.5% share vs. 4.6%, HEVs edge down -4.9% to 108,061 and 47.4% share vs. 44.3%, PHEVs step up 1.5% to 11,476 and 5% share vs. 4.4% and BEVs surge 38.5% to 62,679 and 27.5% share vs. 17.7% over the first 2 months of 2025.
Best result since last September for the Tesla Model Y.
Renault (-16.5%) and Peugeot (-20.7%) both disappoint and fall faster than the market to 16.9% and 14.7% share respectively. For once Citroen (+0.9%) braves the negative context and stays in third place with 9.7% share. Even though it rallies back up two spots on January, Dacia (-36.3%) remains in hell year-on-year with just 6.8% share vs. 9.1% a year ago in February 2025. This situation is uncharacteristic for the low cost brand and is starting to be a little worrying. Volkswagen (-21%) stays at #5 while Toyota (-19%) is down two ranks to #6. BMW (-27.2%) is up three spots on January to #7 but struggles year-on-year, while Skoda (+5.9%) is strong once again at #8. The winners of the month are Tesla (+55.1%) up 16 ranks on last month to #9 with 3.1% share, the carmaker’s best result since last September, Opel (+51.1%) and Fiat (+60.6%). Further down, MG is estimated to gain 8.3% at #17 and BYD should grow by 82.7% at #22.
The new generation Citroen C5 Aircross is up to a record #16.
We have a surprise in the models charts: the Citroen C3 (-25.9%) snaps the pole position despite freefalling year-on-year, with 24% of its February volume coming from the e-C3 BEV. This is the third time the C3 nameplate is #1 in France after October 2019 and January 2025. Note that like in 2019, the C3 benefits from the Clio generation changeover (the Clio nameplate would be #1 this month). The C3 outsells the Peugeot 208 (-29.5%) in even worse shape while the Peugeot 2008 (-20.8%) is up to #3, its best ranking since July 2022. Now discontinued, the Renault Clio V logically drops -55.9% to #4, followed by a crashing Dacia Sandero (-41.3%). In contrast the Tesla Model Y (+74.6%) surges ahead to #7 and 2.5% share and back to the BEV pole position above the Renault 5 (-13%) at #9. Up to #7 in January, the Renault Clio VI falls back to #11 as the “true” sales begin after a public launch in January when demo sales accounted for the large majority of its volume. The new Citroen C5 Aircross II is up to a record #16 whereas the Renault 4 falls 15 ranks to #44.
Previous month: France January 2026: BEV sales up 52.1%, Renault Clio VI in Top 10
One year ago: France February 2025: Renault (+20.4%) reclaims control in stable market
Full February 2026 Top 25 brands and Top 75 models below.
France February 2026 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Feb-26 | % | /25 | Jan | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Renault | 20,417 | 16.9% | – 16.5% | 1 | 41,819 | 18.3% | – 0.8% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Peugeot | 17,746 | 14.7% | – 20.7% | 2 | 35,453 | 15.6% | – 14.9% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Citroen | 11,680 | 9.7% | + 0.9% | 3 | 21,173 | 9.3% | + 1.7% | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Dacia | 8,158 | 6.8% | – 36.3% | 6 | 14,754 | 6.5% | – 35.3% | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | Volkswagen | 8,063 | 6.7% | – 21.0% | 5 | 14,984 | 6.6% | – 15.1% | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Toyota | 7,807 | 6.5% | – 19.0% | 4 | 16,971 | 7.4% | – 15.7% | 4 | 6 |
| 7 | BMW | 3,966 | 3.3% | – 27.2% | 10 | 6,646 | 2.9% | – 30.8% | 8 | 7 |
| 8 | Skoda | 3,804 | 3.1% | + 5.9% | 7 | 6,879 | 3.0% | + 6.8% | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | Tesla | 3,715 | 3.1% | + 55.1% | 25 | 4,376 | 1.9% | + 23.8% | 14 | 18 |
| 10 | Hyundai | 3,310 | 2.7% | – 8.6% | 11 | 5,702 | 2.5% | – 19.1% | 11 | 10 |
| 11 | Opel | 3,282 | 2.7% | + 51.1% | 8 | 6,298 | 2.8% | + 26.7% | 9 | 15 |
| 12 | Audi | 3,133 | 2.6% | – 10.6% | 9 | 5,825 | 2.6% | – 13.5% | 10 | 9 |
| 13 | Fiat | 2,566 | 2.1% | + 60.6% | 13 | 4,664 | 2.0% | + 40.3% | 12 | 20 |
| 14 | Ford | 2,463 | 2.0% | – 21.4% | 12 | 4,581 | 2.0% | – 24.5% | 13 | 12 |
| 15 | Kia | 2,382 | 2.0% | – 9.0% | 14 | 4,210 | 1.8% | – 17.7% | 15 | 13 |
| 16 | Mercedes | 2,335 | 1.9% | – 7.6% | 17 | 3,840 | 1.7% | + 2.8% | 16 | 11 |
| 17 | MG (est) | 2,110 | 1.7% | + 8.3% | 20 | 3,239 | 1.4% | – 7.1% | 18 | 14 |
| 18 | Mini | 1,887 | 1.6% | – 16.9% | 16 | 3,398 | 1.5% | – 6.2% | 17 | 17 |
| 19 | Nissan | 1,617 | 1.3% | – 48.4% | 18 | 2,955 | 1.3% | – 37.0% | 19 | 16 |
| 20 | Cupra | 1,337 | 1.1% | – 27.6% | 19 | 2,506 | 1.1% | – 13.6% | 21 | 19 |
| 21 | Suzuki | 1,246 | 1.0% | – 31.2% | 15 | 2,767 | 1.2% | – 21.2% | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | BYD (est) | 1,100 | 0.9% | + 82.7% | 22 | 1,971 | 0.9% | + 103.6% | 22 | 24 |
| 23 | DS | 962 | 0.8% | – 22.3% | 21 | 1,838 | 0.8% | – 18.3% | 23 | 23 |
| 24 | Jeep | 825 | 0.7% | – 5.1% | 24 | 1,584 | 0.7% | – 5.1% | 25 | 26 |
| 25 | Seat | 819 | 0.7% | – 37.0% | 23 | 1,656 | 0.7% | – 31.6% | 24 | 22 |
France February 2026 – models:
| Pos | Model | Feb-26 | % | /25 | Jan |
| 1 | Citroen C3 | 5,639 | 4.7% | – 25.9% | 3 |
| 2 | Peugeot 208 | 4,828 | 4.0% | – 29.5% | 1 |
| 3 | Peugeot 2008 | 4,157 | 3.4% | – 20.8% | 4 |
| 4 | Renault Clio V | 3,852 | 3.2% | – 55.9% | 2 |
| 5 | Dacia Sandero | 3,766 | 3.1% | – 41.3% | 8 |
| 6 | Peugeot 3008 | 3,195 | 2.6% | – 28.3% | 6 |
| 7 | Tesla Model Y | 3,034 | 2.5% | + 74.6% | 43 |
| 8 | Peugeot 308 | 2,801 | 2.3% | – 4.5% | 11 |
| 9 | Renault 5 | 2,639 | 2.2% | – 13.0% | 5 |
| 10 | Renault Captur | 2,585 | 2.1% | – 38.7% | 9 |
| 11 | Renault Clio VI | 2,473 | 2.0% | new | 7 |
| 12 | Renault Symbioz | 2,437 | 2.0% | – 3.6% | 17 |
| 13 | Dacia Duster III | 2,426 | 2.0% | – 43.4% | 16 |
| 14 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 2,274 | 1.9% | – 23.6% | 12 |
| 15 | Toyota Yaris | 2,154 | 1.8% | – 18.6% | 10 |
| 16 | Citroen C5 Aircross II | 2,137 | 1.8% | new | 19 |
| 17 | Renault Scenic V | 2,127 | 1.8% | + 114.0% | 15 |
| 18 | Peugeot 5008 III | 2,077 | 1.7% | + 11.7% | 21 |
| 19 | Toyota C-HR II | 1,616 | 1.3% | + 27.0% | 14 |
| 20 | VW Polo | 1,549 | 1.3% | – 18.6% | 18 |
| 21 | Citroen C3 Aircross II | 1,457 | 1.2% | + 553.4% | 13 |
| 22 | Hyundai Kona | 1,404 | 1.2% | + 24.2% | 35 |
| 23 | Opel Corsa | 1,396 | 1.2% | – 5.7% | 24 |
| 24 | VW T-Roc II | 1,347 | 1.1% | new | 31 |
| 25 | Renault Austral | 1,295 | 1.1% | – 27.2% | 25 |
| 26 | Dacia Bigster | 1,237 | 1.0% | new | 22 |
| 27 | Ford Puma | 1,156 | 1.0% | – 20.1% | 20 |
| 28 | VW ID.4 | 1,003 | 0.8% | + 129.0% | 30 |
| 29 | Citroen C4 | 988 | 0.8% | – 34.0% | 23 |
| 30 | Fiat 600 | 980 | 0.8% | + 33.0% | 42 |
| 31 | Skoda Elroq | 959 | 0.8% | + 322.5% | 32 |
| 32 | Mini Hatch | 946 | 0.8% | – 20.2% | 45 |
| 33 | Renault Megane E-Tech | 873 | 0.7% | + 50.3% | 26 |
| 34 | VW Tiguan III | 867 | 0.7% | – 40.9% | 37 |
| 35 | Nissan Qashqai | 856 | 0.7% | – 39.2% | 36 |
| 36 | Toyota Aygo X | 845 | 0.7% | – 8.5% | 27 |
| 37 | MG ZS | 834 | 0.7% | – 24.2% | 63 |
| 38 | Hyundai Tucson | 829 | 0.7% | – 15.9% | 46 |
| 39 | VW Golf | 812 | 0.7% | – 33.6% | 34 |
| 40 | VW ID.3 | 798 | 0.7% | – 2.9% | 40 |
| 41 | BMW Série 1 | 756 | 0.6% | – 43.6% | 75 |
| 42 | VW T-Cross | 747 | 0.6% | – 32.7% | 56 |
| 43 | BMW X1 | 742 | 0.6% | – 31.4% | 59 |
| 44 | Renault 4 | 717 | 0.6% | + 2657.7% | 29 |
| 45 | BMW iX1 | 711 | 0.6% | + 53.2% | 44 |
| 46 | Mini Countryman | 709 | 0.6% | – 3.5% | 41 |
| 47 | Skoda Fabia | 694 | 0.6% | – 4.0% | 49 |
| 48 | Opel Mokka | 668 | 0.6% | + 58.3% | 33 |
| 49 | Audi Q3 | 667 | 0.6% | + 63.1% | 52 |
| 50 | Tesla Model 3 | 664 | 0.5% | + 3.3% | 187 |
| 51 | Fiat 500 | 658 | 0.5% | – 7.3% | 51 |
| 52 | Audi A3 | 656 | 0.5% | + 46.4% | 50 |
| 53 | Opel Frontera | 650 | 0.5% | + 2854.5% | 38 |
| 54 | Jeep Avenger | 635 | 0.5% | + 20.0% | 55 |
| 55 | Skoda Octavia | 634 | 0.5% | – 7.8% | 53 |
| 56 | Ford Kuga | 629 | 0.5% | – 13.0% | 66 |
| 57 | MG 3 | 619 | 0.5% | + 24.8% | 72 |
| 58 | Skoda Kamiq | 610 | 0.5% | + 6.3% | 68 |
| 59 | Kia Sportage | 562 | 0.5% | – 21.2% | 76 |
| 60 | Suzuki Swift | 559 | 0.5% | – 50.5% | 28 |
| 61 | Mercedes GLA | 557 | 0.5% | – 26.6% | 87 |
| 62 | Hyundai Inster | 549 | 0.5% | + 254.2% | 54 |
| 63 | Dacia Jogger | 537 | 0.4% | – 64.2% | 58 |
| 64 | Toyota Corolla | 533 | 0.4% | – 40.1% | 39 |
| 65 | Fiat Grande Panda | 518 | 0.4% | new | 47 |
| 66 | Renault Rafale | 514 | 0.4% | – 31.6% | 84 |
| 67 | MG EHS | 488 | 0.4% | + 168.1% | 83 |
| 68 | Nissan Juke | 477 | 0.4% | – 49.0% | 69 |
| 69 | Cupra Formentor | 466 | 0.4% | – 14.2% | 85 |
| 70 | Seat Ibiza | 456 | 0.4% | – 22.7% | 60 |
| 71 | Mercedes CLA | 456 | 0.4% | + 200.0% | 70 |
| 72 | Kia Niro | 449 | 0.4% | + 6.1% | 78 |
| 73 | Renault Espace | 437 | 0.4% | – 34.3% | 81 |
| 74 | Alfa Romeo Junior | 403 | 0.3% | + 3.9% | 61 |
| 75 | Suzuki Vitara | 392 | 0.3% | – 17.1% | 65 |
Source: PFA
This Post Has 2 Comments
What’s the reason behind Sandero’s bombing? Supply issues?
BSCB AI:
“New Engine” Strategy: Dacia is in the process of a major, mandated shift toward electrification and cleaner, more efficient engines (Hybrid 155, LFP battery for Spring), which has increased the price of their previously ultra-budget offerings.
Quality Complaints: There are reported concerns about 2026 models with new, more complex technologies experiencing, causing potential issues, as noted in recent reports on the Sandero”.