France March 2026: Dacia Sandero, Tesla Model Y and Renault Clio VI in photo finish
First podium finish at home for the Renault Clio VI.
For the first time since last October, the French new car market is actually up year-on-year in March at a very robust +12.9% to 173,633 units. Keep in mind however that March 2025 was off -14.5% on the year prior. Due to a poor start of 2026, the Q1 volume is still in negative at -2.1% to 401,555. Encouragingly, private sales soar 22% to 80,183 and 46.2% share vs. 42.7% in March 2025. Long term leases among private buyers are up 42% to 28% share and short term rentals are up 19%. Meanwhile fleets are struggling at -3% to 39,172 units and 22.6% share vs. 26.3% a year ago, but BEV sales within fleets surge 77% year-on-year to reach 41% share. In the market as a whole, BEVs are up 69% to 49,406 units and 28.5% share vs. just 19% a year ago and year-to-date volumes are up 50.4% to 112,086 and 27.9% share vs. 18.2% over the same period in 2025.
The Tesla Model Y is just 15 units off a historical pole position.
In the brands ranking, Renault (+13.6%) manages to beat the market to reach 19.2% share, its highest since June 2022 (21.3%). In contrast Peugeot (-11%) is in dire straits and falls to a paltry 12.1% share vs. 14.1% so far this year. Dacia (+12%) returns to #3 after a couple of though months and climbs back up to #4 year-to-date. Citroen (+23.2%) is in excellent shape thanks to a renewed lineup and distances Volkswagen (+4.2%) and Toyota (-0.6%), both weak. Tesla (+203.1%) delivers an outstanding result, soaring to #7 with 9,569 sales and 5.5% share. This is the carmaker’s best ranking since December 2023 (#6), 2nd highest volume for just 3 units and highest share since November 2023 (6.1%). Fiat (+53.4%), BMW (+37%), Kia (+27.4%) and Audi (+20.3%) shine below. In the BEV brands ranking, Renault dominates with 9,613 sales (+46%) ahead of Tesla and Peugeot at 4,003 (+30%).
The Renault Twingo IV breaks into the Top 50 for the first time.
We have a completely reshuffled models charts, with the Top 3 fitting within less than 50 sales. The Dacia Sandero (+12.4%) is the overall best-seller with 4.1% share, the nameplate’s first monthly win since July 2024. Just 15 units below is the Tesla Model Y (+203%), reaching #2 with over 7,000 sales and 4% share. These are all records, beating its previous best of #4 (March 2023 and September 2024), 6,456 sales (March 2023) and 3.5% share (March 2023 and September 2025). Note that Tesla offered an additional 3,000€ cash for clunkers for the Model Y from January 9 to March 31. For its first real month of sales, the Renault Clio VI is up 8 spots on February to crack the podium for the first time at #3. The Peugeot 2008 (+4.7%) edges up at #4 while the Peugeot 208 (-26.8%) is in complete freefall at #5 but still tops the YTD charts. Other notable results include the Citroen C3 Aircross at #9, the Renault 5 down to #11, Tesla Model 3 up to #19 and the Renault Twingo IV breaking into the Top 50 at #47
Previous month: France February 2026: Citroen C3 best-seller, Renault Clio VI back outside Top 10
One year ago: France March 2025: Renault Symbioz cracks Top 10, Tesla off -36.8%
Full March 2026 Top 25 brands and Top 75 models below.
France March 2026 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Mar-26 | % | /25 | Feb | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Renault | 33,386 | 19.2% | + 13.6% | 1 | 75,205 | 18.7% | + 5.1% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Peugeot | 21,079 | 12.1% | – 11.0% | 2 | 56,532 | 14.1% | – 13.5% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Dacia | 14,884 | 8.6% | + 12.0% | 4 | 29,638 | 7.4% | – 17.8% | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Citroen | 13,315 | 7.7% | + 23.2% | 3 | 34,488 | 8.6% | + 9.1% | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Volkswagen | 10,594 | 6.1% | + 4.3% | 5 | 25,578 | 6.4% | – 8.0% | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | Toyota | 9,666 | 5.6% | – 0.6% | 6 | 26,637 | 6.6% | – 10.8% | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | Tesla | 9,569 | 5.5% | + 203.1% | 9 | 13,945 | 3.5% | + 108.4% | 7 | 18 |
| 8 | BMW | 6,670 | 3.8% | + 37.0% | 7 | 13,316 | 3.3% | – 8.0% | 8 | 7 |
| 9 | Audi | 5,195 | 3.0% | + 20.3% | 12 | 11,020 | 2.7% | – 0.3% | 10 | 9 |
| 10 | Skoda | 4,785 | 2.8% | + 1.6% | 8 | 11,664 | 2.9% | + 4.6% | 9 | 8 |
| 11 | Mercedes | 3,995 | 2.3% | + 10.6% | 16 | 7,835 | 2.0% | + 6.6% | 15 | 11 |
| 12 | Ford | 3,758 | 2.2% | + 10.8% | 14 | 8,339 | 2.1% | – 11.8% | 13 | 12 |
| 13 | Opel | 3,550 | 2.0% | + 7.7% | 11 | 9,848 | 2.5% | + 19.1% | 11 | 15 |
| 14 | Kia | 3,254 | 1.9% | + 27.4% | 15 | 7,464 | 1.9% | – 2.7% | 16 | 13 |
| 15 | Fiat | 3,250 | 1.9% | + 53.4% | 13 | 7,914 | 2.0% | + 45.4% | 14 | 20 |
| 16 | Hyundai | 3,173 | 1.8% | – 1.7% | 10 | 8,875 | 2.2% | – 13.6% | 12 | 10 |
| 17 | MG (est) | 2,800 | 1.6% | – 1.0% | 17 | 6,065 | 1.5% | – 4.0% | 17 | 14 |
| 18 | Nissan | 2,570 | 1.5% | + 3.4% | 19 | 5,525 | 1.4% | – 23.0% | 19 | 16 |
| 19 | Mini | 2,458 | 1.4% | + 28.1% | 18 | 5,856 | 1.5% | + 5.7% | 18 | 17 |
| 20 | Suzuki | 2,125 | 1.2% | + 2.1% | 21 | 4,892 | 1.2% | – 12.5% | 20 | 21 |
| 21 | Cupra | 1,910 | 1.1% | – 5.7% | 20 | 4,416 | 1.1% | – 10.4% | 21 | 19 |
| 22 | DS | 1,376 | 0.8% | – 1.8% | 23 | 3,214 | 0.8% | – 12.0% | 22 | 23 |
| 23 | Volvo | 1,170 | 0.7% | – 3.1% | 26 | 2,534 | 0.6% | + 6.1% | 26 | 25 |
| 24 | BYD (est) | 1,100 | 0.6% | + 66.9% | 22 | 2,947 | 0.7% | + 81.1% | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | Jeep | 1,068 | 0.6% | + 4.5% | 24 | 2,652 | 0.7% | – 1.5% | 24 | 26 |
France March 2026 – models:
| Pos | Model | Mar-26 | % | /25 | Feb | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Dacia Sandero | 7,038 | 4.1% | + 12.4% | 5 | 13,633 | 3.4% | – 22.5% | 4 | 3 |
| 2 | Tesla Model Y | 7,023 | 4.0% | + 203.0% | 7 | 10,670 | 2.7% | + 127.2% | 7 | 15 |
| 3 | Renault Clio VI | 6,990 | 4.0% | new | 11 | 12,312 | 3.1% | new | 6 | 141 |
| 4 | Peugeot 2008 | 6,259 | 3.6% | + 4.7% | 3 | 14,431 | 3.6% | – 9.5% | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Peugeot 208 | 6,100 | 3.5% | – 26.8% | 2 | 17,365 | 4.3% | – 18.0% | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Citroen C3 | 5,083 | 2.9% | + 9.7% | 1 | 14,992 | 3.7% | – 18.4% | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | Renault Clio V | 4,252 | 2.4% | – 55.3% | 4 | 12,533 | 3.1% | – 46.8% | 5 | 1 |
| 8 | Renault Captur | 4,090 | 2.4% | – 13.4% | 10 | 9,359 | 2.3% | – 16.5% | 9 | 8 |
| 9 | Citroen C3 Aircross II | 3,773 | 2.2% | + 647.1% | 14 | 8,354 | 2.1% | + 1018.3% | 11 | 18 |
| 10 | Renault Symbioz | 3,530 | 2.0% | – 1.2% | 12 | 7,532 | 1.9% | – 5.0% | 15 | 12 |
| 11 | Renault 5 | 3,493 | 2.0% | + 4.6% | 9 | 10,084 | 2.5% | + 9.8% | 8 | 7 |
| 12 | Dacia Duster III | 3,486 | 2.0% | – 6.9% | 13 | 7,650 | 1.9% | – 31.1% | 14 | 9 |
| 13 | Peugeot 3008 | 3,165 | 1.8% | – 10.4% | 6 | 9,236 | 2.3% | – 23.6% | 10 | 6 |
| 14 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 2,988 | 1.7% | – 5.1% | 15 | 7,733 | 1.9% | – 21.8% | 13 | 11 |
| 15 | Renault Scenic V | 2,824 | 1.6% | + 26.9% | 18 | 6,896 | 1.7% | + 56.9% | 17 | 22 |
| 16 | Peugeot 308 | 2,821 | 1.6% | – 15.5% | 8 | 8,135 | 2.0% | – 8.2% | 12 | 13 |
| 17 | Citroen C5 Aircross II | 2,630 | 1.5% | new | 17 | 6,214 | 1.5% | new | 18 | 99 |
| 18 | Toyota Yaris | 2,629 | 1.5% | – 3.7% | 16 | 7,467 | 1.9% | – 4.5% | 16 | 10 |
| 19 | Tesla Model 3 | 2,525 | 1.5% | + 208.3% | 52 | 3,225 | 0.8% | + 65.6% | 30 | 73 |
| 20 | Renault Austral | 2,369 | 1.4% | + 5.4% | 25 | 4,738 | 1.2% | – 9.7% | 22 | 16 |
| 21 | Dacia Bigster | 1,892 | 1.1% | + 83.5% | 26 | 4,306 | 1.1% | + 284.1% | 23 | 21 |
| 22 | VW Polo | 1,788 | 1.0% | – 18.9% | 21 | 4,884 | 1.2% | – 21.9% | 21 | 14 |
| 23 | VW T-Roc II | 1,743 | 1.0% | new | 24 | 3,957 | 1.0% | new | 25 | 159 |
| 24 | Peugeot 5008 III | 1,737 | 1.0% | + 12.1% | 19 | 5,055 | 1.3% | + 10.7% | 20 | 17 |
| 25 | Toyota Aygo X | 1,625 | 0.9% | + 72.5% | 35 | 3,441 | 0.9% | + 14.9% | 27 | 39 |
| 26 | Opel Corsa | 1,617 | 0.9% | – 0.4% | 23 | 4,166 | 1.0% | – 19.3% | 24 | 26 |
| 27 | Toyota C-HR II | 1,552 | 0.9% | + 9.3% | 20 | 5,206 | 1.3% | + 32.6% | 19 | 29 |
| 28 | BMW X1 | 1,481 | 0.9% | + 56.4% | 43 | 2,665 | 0.7% | – 5.5% | 38 | 40 |
| 29 | Nissan Qashqai | 1,481 | 0.9% | + 25.4% | 34 | 3,076 | 0.8% | – 5.8% | 32 | 30 |
| 30 | Renault 4 | 1,477 | 0.9% | + 24516.7% | 44 | 3,119 | 0.8% | + 9646.9% | 31 | 64 |
| 31 | Ford Puma | 1,465 | 0.8% | + 18.2% | 27 | 3,866 | 1.0% | – 1.0% | 26 | 19 |
| 32 | VW ID.4 | 1,410 | 0.8% | + 195.6% | 29 | 3,300 | 0.8% | + 157.6% | 29 | 72 |
| 33 | Renault Espace | 1,353 | 0.8% | + 70.6% | 76 | 2,089 | 0.5% | + 9.9% | 55 | 51 |
| 34 | Dacia Jogger | 1,326 | 0.8% | – 19.2% | 63 | 2,330 | 0.6% | – 43.7% | 47 | 28 |
| 35 | Mini Hatch | 1,309 | 0.8% | + 40.5% | 40 | 2,914 | 0.7% | + 3.4% | 34 | 35 |
| 36 | Suzuki Swift | 1,250 | 0.7% | – 7.6% | 60 | 2,750 | 0.7% | – 25.3% | 36 | 36 |
| 37 | MG ZS | 1,183 | 0.7% | – 9.9% | 36 | 2,436 | 0.6% | – 24.0% | 42 | 34 |
| 38 | BMW Série 1 | 1,179 | 0.7% | + 5.5% | 41 | 2,260 | 0.6% | – 39.8% | 49 | 33 |
| 39 | Ford Explorer | 1,161 | 0.7% | + 420.6% | 82 | 1,803 | 0.4% | + 286.1% | 61 | 126 |
| 40 | Skoda Fabia | 1,147 | 0.7% | – 20.0% | 48 | 2,403 | 0.6% | – 14.6% | 45 | 41 |
| 41 | Dacia Spring | 1,142 | 0.7% | + 88.4% | 111 | 1,719 | 0.4% | – 18.6% | 65 | 62 |
| 42 | VW Tiguan III | 1,117 | 0.6% | – 11.1% | 33 | 2,689 | 0.7% | – 31.3% | 37 | 24 |
| 43 | Hyundai Kona | 1,113 | 0.6% | + 4.8% | 22 | 3,321 | 0.8% | + 2.3% | 28 | 37 |
| 44 | VW T-Cross | 1,105 | 0.6% | – 20.5% | 42 | 2,342 | 0.6% | – 26.3% | 46 | 31 |
| 45 | Skoda Elroq | 1,096 | 0.6% | + 254.7% | 31 | 2,911 | 0.7% | + 440.1% | 35 | 58 |
| 46 | Renault Twingo IV | 1,059 | 0.6% | new | 139 | 1,182 | 0.3% | new | 82 | 344 |
| 47 | Audi A3 | 1,052 | 0.6% | + 55.9% | 47 | 2,221 | 0.6% | + 39.7% | 50 | 45 |
| 48 | Fiat Grande Panda | 1,041 | 0.6% | new | 65 | 2,135 | 0.5% | new | 53 | 83 |
| 49 | Citroen C4 | 1,011 | 0.6% | – 69.1% | 28 | 3,061 | 0.8% | – 50.7% | 33 | 25 |
| 50 | BMW iX1 | 1,007 | 0.6% | + 82.4% | 45 | 2,326 | 0.6% | + 69.9% | 48 | 47 |
| 51 | Audi Q4 | 1,006 | 0.6% | + 48.6% | 72 | 1,887 | 0.5% | + 6.5% | 58 | 68 |
| 52 | Hyundai Tucson | 1,003 | 0.6% | – 4.0% | 37 | 2,410 | 0.6% | – 19.9% | 44 | 23 |
| 53 | VW ID.3 | 983 | 0.6% | + 11.8% | 39 | 2,430 | 0.6% | + 15.8% | 43 | 55 |
| 54 | Mercedes GLA | 977 | 0.6% | + 28.9% | 61 | 1,793 | 0.4% | + 3.5% | 62 | 43 |
| 55 | Fiat 600 | 968 | 0.6% | + 11.6% | 30 | 2,557 | 0.6% | – 5.9% | 40 | 59 |
| 56 | Fiat 500 | 913 | 0.5% | + 54.5% | 49 | 2,107 | 0.5% | + 21.7% | 54 | 82 |
| 57 | Renault Rafale | 894 | 0.5% | – 16.0% | 66 | 1,675 | 0.4% | – 26.0% | 70 | 54 |
| 58 | VW Golf | 892 | 0.5% | – 3.8% | 38 | 2,522 | 0.6% | – 17.0% | 41 | 32 |
| 59 | Mini Countryman | 863 | 0.5% | + 54.1% | 46 | 2,202 | 0.5% | + 35.2% | 51 | 61 |
| 60 | Kia Sportage | 839 | 0.5% | + 17.8% | 59 | 1,718 | 0.4% | – 12.9% | 66 | 46 |
| 61 | Ford Kuga | 805 | 0.5% | – 28.9% | 56 | 1,830 | 0.5% | – 35.1% | 60 | 38 |
| 62 | Mercedes CLA | 781 | 0.4% | + 136.7% | 73 | 1,595 | 0.4% | + 177.9% | 72 | 112 |
| 63 | Audi Q3 | 776 | 0.4% | + 70.5% | 51 | 1,986 | 0.5% | + 67.2% | 57 | 80 |
| 64 | Renault Megane E-Tech | 756 | 0.4% | – 23.6% | 32 | 2,636 | 0.7% | + 17.2% | 39 | 50 |
| 65 | MG 3 | 748 | 0.4% | – 8.1% | 57 | 1,712 | 0.4% | – 4.8% | 67 | 42 |
| 66 | Nissan Juke | 748 | 0.4% | – 13.0% | 69 | 1,601 | 0.4% | – 33.6% | 71 | 44 |
| 67 | Skoda Kamiq | 719 | 0.4% | – 13.3% | 58 | 1,712 | 0.4% | – 7.3% | 68 | 56 |
| 68 | Audi A1 | 712 | 0.4% | – 32.5% | 68 | 1,759 | 0.4% | – 35.5% | 63 | 52 |
| 69 | Skoda Octavia | 700 | 0.4% | + 3.2% | 55 | 1,873 | 0.5% | – 10.4% | 59 | 48 |
| 70 | Opel Frontera | 665 | 0.4% | + 375.0% | 53 | 2,004 | 0.5% | + 1137.0% | 56 | 84 |
| 71 | Peugeot 408 | 643 | 0.4% | + 6.8% | 80 | 1,352 | 0.3% | – 6.9% | 77 | 87 |
| 72 | Opel Mokka | 638 | 0.4% | – 36.2% | 50 | 2,140 | 0.5% | + 18.0% | 52 | 66 |
| 73 | MG EHS | 635 | 0.4% | + 56.8% | 67 | 1,398 | 0.3% | + 101.4% | 75 | 76 |
| 74 | Kia Niro | 601 | 0.3% | + 3.4% | 75 | 1,358 | 0.3% | – 5.8% | 76 | 65 |
| 75 | VW Taigo | 584 | 0.3% | – 24.3% | 101 | 1,056 | 0.3% | – 40.5% | 87 | 67 |
Source: PFA
This Post Has 2 Comments
Clio V production will end in June 2026.
Great career as likely the best allrounder in the B-segment.
Its successor VI is off to a very encouraging start: Bursa factory, where Bigster and Striker are manufactured as well, has reached full capacity. Maubeuge or a Moroccan plant could be assigned to produce additional VI’s.
115 EDC and 115 manual version joined the 160 bhp HEV version in March.
Personal note: went to a Renault dealership with a friend who is after the Rafale.
Impressive modelrange and the Clio VI IRL is a looker!
Design maybe a bit too racy for some of the V owners, but a great looking car nonetheless.
Indeed, I really like the Clio VI.