France August 2026: BEVs up to record 39% share, Tesla Model Y overall best-seller

The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling vehicle in France in August.

It’s a fourth consecutive month of year-on-year gains for the French new car market at +7.4% to 94,349 in August. This way, the year-to-date tally is up 3% to 1,078,323. units. Petrol sales implode -40.5% to 10,903 and 11.6% share vs. 20.9% in August 2025 and 31.5% two years ago. Diesel freefalls -57.7% to 1,816 and 1.9% share vs. 4.9% a year ago and 6.8% in August 2024, HEVs are down -8.8% to 36,245 and  38.4% share vs. 45.2% last year and 35.5% two years ago and PHEVs edge down -1.5% to 5,867 and 6.2% share vs. 6.7% in August 2025 and 7.2% two years. Finally the event of the month is BEV sales surging 112.8% to 36,159 and an all time record 38.3% share, the third month in a row it posts a share best after reaching 35% in June and 30% in May. This way, BEVs singlehandedly pull the market into positive territory. YTD BEV registrations are up 73.9% to 322,102 and 29.9% share vs. 17.7% over the same period in 2025. Note also LPG sales up 26.4% to 3,361 and 3.6% share vs. 3% in August 2025.

In the brands ranking, Renault (+0.2%) is stable to 13.9% share vs. 17% so far this year, with Peugeot (-0.3%), also stable, similarly lodges a lower share than YTD at 12.4% vs. 13.2%. Dacia (-13.4%) continues to skid, threatened by the intensifying Chinese competition, and falls to 7.6% share. Citroen (+5.1%) is in better shape yet trails its home market. It is followed by Toyota (-2.1%) and Volkswagen (+2.9%) both muted. Tesla (+278.5%) surges ahead to #7 and 5.5% share and now ranks #8 year-to-date. Skoda (+36.3%) is also in great form and reaches a record share at 4.2%. BMW (-9.9%) and Kia (+1.3%) round out the Top 10. Below, Fiat (+108.2%) more than doubles its year-ago volume to reach #12 with 2.4% share, its best result since March 2024 (#12 and 2.6%). BYD is estimated to gain 61.6% at #13 and MG 18.8% to #16. Newcomer Jaecoo breaks into the Top 20 at #20 with 1.5% share, an instant success for the Chinese brand in France.

The Peugeot 208 is up 23.8% year-on-year.

We have a massive surprise in the models charts: the Tesla Model Y (+383%) is up 5-fold year-on-year to snap the overall pole position for the first time at 4.9% share (Previous best #2 and 4% last March). If we count the Dacia Sandero as half-French, this is the first time a foreign model is the best-seller in France. It is also the first time a BEV is #1 in France. The Peugeot 208 (+23.8%) is relegated to 2nd place despite surging year-on-year, as does the Citroen C3 (+43.1%) at #3. The Dacia Sandero (-10.5%) is down two spots on last month to #4 but remains #2 year-to-date. Below a weak Peugeot 2008 (-7.4%), the Renault Clio VI continues to disappoint at #6 with just 2.7% share vs. 3.1% so far this year. When adding the 5th and 6th generations, Clio nameplate would rank only #4 with 3.5% share.

Meanwhile the Renault 5 (+64%) impresses once again at #7, with the Toyota Yaris (-3.3%) up to #9 which is its best ranking since last December. After placing at a record #6 last month, the Renault Scenic (+177%) still manages to score its second best finish at #10. The Renault Twingo E-Tech is down three spots to #12 as demo sales have completed and customers get their first units. I haven’t seen a single Twingo on the French roads in the 1.5 month I have been here. The Skoda Elroq (+153.6%) and VW ID.4 (+330.4%) both break their ranking records for the second month running to #14 and #15 respectively while the Renault Megane E-Tech (+132.5%) also shines at #20. Excellent start for the Kia EV2, already the brand’s best-seller in France at #28. Finally the Jaecoo 5 is up 9 spots on July to #31 and the 7 up 7 to #39.

Previous month: France July 2026: BEVs up 126.7% to 35% share, Renault Scenic E-Tech and Twingo E-Tech in Top 10

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

Full August 2026 Top 25 brands and Top 75 models below.