France cars sales 2015 had been up 6% thanks to a final rush with December reported in double-digit. Despite a strong year-end Renault had lost the leadership at group level closing 3 thousand units down from P.S.A..
Economic Outlook
France’s economy expanded at a modest pace over the previous quarter in Q3. The acceleration over Q2 was driven by strong domestic demand. Latest indicators paint a mixed picture of the economy at the start of Q4. While in October, industrial production accelerated, the Composite PMI fell to a four-month low in December and business sentiment dropped to a five-month low in November.
Meanwhile, the regional elections that took place on 6 and 13 December saw center-right party The Republicans (LR) led by former president Nicolas Sarkozy win 5 new regions; the party now governs a total of 7 continental regions. The ruling Socialist Party (PS) has been left with only 5 of the continental regions. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front (FN), despite getting the most votes in the first round, failed to win a single region as the electorate mobilized between the two rounds. These elections are seen as an important barometer for the approaching 2017 presidential elections and indicate a rebound of right wing parties in France.
Market Outlook
December sales have been reported again in double digit up supporting the closing of the year at a robust +6.8% of increase well ahead of our initial forecast. Albeit a weak economic trend, in the 2015 the automotive industry posted the first year of real recovery after the 2011 fall and was back over the 1.9 million units.
According to data released by the C.C.F.A, the French Associations of Car Manufacturers, total car passenger’s sales in December have been 183.720, up 12.5% posting the 7th year on year increase in a string. In the entire 2015 sales had been 1.917.226, up 6.8% from the previous year.
In December, Renault rushed up with sales +26.3% at 42.185 sales ending the year with 382.504 units (+8.1%) and 20.0% of market share.
In second place, Peugeot registered 26.102 units in December (+2.4%) and 327.393 in the year (+7.3%) while Citroen sales at 16.407 in December (-2.2%) and 201.065 in the year (-13.0%) reflects the spin-off of the DS sales (3.023 in December and 30.257 in the year).
Leader of importers was Volkswagen with 12.147 (-15.2%) ahead of Dacia with 10.452 (+28.2%), Mercedes with 8.330 (+33.1%) and Toyota with 7.185 (+17.2%).
As far as the Group’s performance, PSA ended the year on top with 558.715 sales versus the 555.206 of Renault that attempted to leadership with a desperate December final rush. Third was Volkswagen Group with 143.1%.
As far as best-selling models ranking, in December the Renault Clio recovered the leadership with 11.027 sales (-0.8%), followed by the Peugeot 208 with 7.458 (+0.6) and the Renault Captur with 7.235 (+5.1%). Strong performance scored in December by the Dacia Sandero (+48.8%), the Renault Twingo (+30%) and the Citroen C4 (+55.7%).
To see the best-selling cars ranking this year with top 100 models see the report
Below, you can sort our interactive tables to see data regarding Brands, Groups and Models. Please bear in mind that sales data are subject to adjustments as sources will update their information. This report is updated at the publishing date and will not be modified while the next on this subject will always have the year to date data updated
| Rank Dec | Rank 2015 | Brand | Sales Dec | Sales 2015 | Dec Var | 2015 Var | Share Dec | Share 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Renault | 42.185 | 382.504 | 26,3% | 8,1% | 23,0% | 20,0% |
| 2 | 2 | Peugeot | 26.102 | 327.393 | 2,4% | 7,3% | 14,2% | 17,1% |
| 3 | 3 | Citroen | 16.407 | 201.065 | -2,2% | -13,0% | 8,9% | 10,5% |
| 4 | 4 | Volkswagen | 12.146 | 144.103 | -15,2% | 3,3% | 6,6% | 7,5% |
| 5 | 5 | Dacia | 10.452 | 97.441 | 28,2% | -5,0% | 5,7% | 5,1% |
| 6 | 11 | Mercedes | 8.330 | 55.376 | 33,1% | 12,7% | 4,5% | 2,9% |
| 7 | 8 | Toyota | 7.185 | 71.755 | 17,2% | 7,5% | 3,9% | 3,7% |
| 8 | 6 | Ford | 7.030 | 80.729 | 12,0% | 7,5% | 3,8% | 4,2% |
| 9 | 7 | Nissan | 6.625 | 74.102 | 8,4% | 8,9% | 3,6% | 3,9% |
| 10 | 13 | BMW | 5.880 | 53.555 | -11,3% | 12,3% | 3,2% | 2,8% |
| 11 | 9 | Opel | 5.715 | 64.170 | 14,5% | 4,8% | 3,1% | 3,3% |
| 12 | 10 | Audi | 5.414 | 58.734 | 0,1% | 4,1% | 2,9% | 3,1% |
| 13 | 12 | Fiat | 4.849 | 54.443 | 36,8% | 19,0% | 2,6% | 2,8% |
| 14 | 14 | DS | 3.023 | 30.257 | 1,6% | 1,6% | ||
| 15 | 16 | Hyundai | 2.933 | 23.968 | 48,1% | 39,6% | 1,6% | 1,3% |
| 16 | 15 | Kia | 2.374 | 29.146 | 11,6% | 3,4% | 1,3% | 1,5% |
| 17 | 17 | Mini | 2.361 | 22.512 | -2,0% | 23,2% | 1,3% | 1,2% |
| 18 | 18 | Seat | 2.140 | 22.009 | 4,4% | 4,4% | 1,2% | 1,1% |
| 19 | 19 | Skoda | 1.867 | 21.759 | -0,8% | 6,6% | 1,0% | 1,1% |
| 20 | 20 | Suzuki | 1.557 | 18.506 | 14,2% | 16,9% | 0,8% | 1,0% |
| 21 | 21 | Volvo | 1.478 | 13.876 | 17,2% | 11,4% | 0,8% | 0,7% |
| 22 | 25 | Smart | 1.144 | 8.107 | 49,7% | 95,4% | 0,6% | 0,4% |
| 23 | 22 | Land Rover | 1.074 | 8.846 | 21,5% | 30,2% | 0,6% | 0,5% |
| 24 | 24 | Mazda | 966 | 8.418 | 62,9% | 41,2% | 0,5% | 0,4% |
| 25 | 26 | Honda | 936 | 7.325 | 14,6% | 3,3% | 0,5% | 0,4% |
| 26 | 23 | Jeep | 880 | 8.585 | 10,4% | 208,5% | 0,5% | 0,4% |
| 27 | 27 | Alfa Romeo | 701 | 6.353 | -1,3% | -16,5% | 0,4% | 0,3% |
| 28 | 30 | Mitsubishi | 443 | 3.936 | 57,7% | 12,6% | 0,2% | 0,2% |
| 29 | 29 | Lexus | 440 | 4.457 | -10,2% | 27,9% | 0,2% | 0,2% |
| 30 | 28 | Porsche | 382 | 4.943 | -20,9% | 43,3% | 0,2% | 0,3% |
| 31 | 31 | Jaguar | 187 | 1.530 | 201,6% | 114,0% | 0,1% | 0,1% |
| 32 | 36 | Tesla | 97 | 708 | 120,5% | 121,3% | 0,1% | 0,0% |
| 33 | 37 | SsangYong | 86 | 636 | 83,0% | 82,9% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| 34 | 33 | Bolloré | 83 | 1.191 | -38,1% | -7,7% | 0,0% | 0,1% |
| 35 | 32 | Lancia | 71 | 1.469 | -77,5% | -75,9% | 0,0% | 0,1% |
| 36 | 34 | Infiniti | 64 | 1.139 | -16,9% | 74,2% | 0,0% | 0,1% |
| 37 | 35 | Subaru | 59 | 841 | -41,6% | 15,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| 38 | 38 | Maserati | 35 | 508 | 52,2% | 18,4% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| 39 | 39 | Ferrari | 11 | 200 | 10,0% | 13,6% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| 40 | 47 | Rolls-Royce | 2 | 28 | -60,0% | 32,4% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| 40 | 48 | PGO | 2 | 22 | 0,0% | 0,0% | ||
| 40 | 49 | Lada | 2 | 20 | 100,0% | 122,2% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| 40 | 40 | Chevrolet | 2 | 121 | -98,2% | -97,1% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| Rank Dec | Rank 2015 | Group | Sales Dec | Sales 2015 | Dec Var | 2015 Var | Share Dec | Share 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Renault-Nissan | 59.328 | 555.206 | 24,2% | 5,7% | 32,3% | 29,0% |
| 2 | 1 | PSA | 45.532 | 558.715 | 7,7% | 4,2% | 24,8% | 29,1% |
| 3 | 3 | Volkswagen | 21.949 | 251.648 | -9,1% | 4,4% | 11,9% | 13,1% |
| 4 | 9 | Mercedes Daimler | 9.474 | 63.483 | 34,9% | 19,1% | 5,2% | 3,3% |
| 5 | 6 | BMW | 8.243 | 76.095 | -8,8% | 15,3% | 4,5% | 4,0% |
| 6 | 5 | Toyota | 7.625 | 76.212 | 15,2% | 8,5% | 4,2% | 4,0% |
| 7 | 4 | Ford | 7.030 | 80.729 | 12,0% | 7,5% | 3,8% | 4,2% |
| 8 | 7 | FCA | 6.547 | 71.577 | 21,3% | 13,9% | 3,6% | 3,7% |
| 9 | 8 | General Motors | 5.717 | 64.313 | 12,1% | -1,7% | 3,1% | 3,4% |
| 10 | 10 | Hyundai-Kia | 5.307 | 53.114 | 29,2% | 17,1% | 2,9% | 2,8% |
| Rank Dec | Rank 2015 | Model | Sales Dec | Sales 2015 | Dec Var | 2015 Var | Share Dec | Share 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Renault Clio | 11.027 | 108.408 | -0,8% | -5,9% | 6,5% | 5,7% |
| 2 | 2 | Peugeot 208 | 7.452 | 90.367 | 0,6% | 6,1% | 4,4% | 4,8% |
| 3 | 4 | Renault Captur | 7.235 | 72.191 | 5,1% | 14,6% | 4,3% | 3,8% |
| 4 | 3 | Peugeot 308 | 6.235 | 75.474 | 13,3% | 17,7% | 3,7% | 4,0% |
| 5 | 9 | Dacia Sandero | 5.014 | 45.264 | 48,8% | 2,0% | 3,0% | 2,4% |
| 6 | 5 | Peugeot 2008 | 4.992 | 63.204 | -2,8% | 16,7% | 2,9% | 3,3% |
| 7 | 8 | Renault Twingo | 4.804 | 45.328 | 30,4% | 7,9% | 2,8% | 2,4% |
| 8 | 6 | Citroen C3 | 4.375 | 56.382 | -1,2% | -6,9% | 2,6% | 3,0% |
| 9 | 22 | Renault Kadjar | 4.301 | 21.069 | 2,5% | 1,1% | ||
| 10 | 7 | Renault Scénic | 4.095 | 46.662 | 2,6% | -4,9% | 2,4% | 2,5% |
| 11 | 11 | Volkswagen Polo | 3.712 | 42.995 | -20,2% | 6,4% | 2,2% | 2,3% |
| 12 | 14 | Dacia Duster | 3.570 | 34.501 | 0,7% | -14,1% | 2,1% | 1,8% |
| 13 | 10 | Citroen C4 Picasso | 3.494 | 44.608 | 12,5% | -1,6% | 2,1% | 2,4% |
| 14 | 12 | Volkswagen Golf | 3.388 | 42.716 | -22,6% | -0,3% | 2,0% | 2,3% |
| 15 | 16 | Toyota Yaris | 2.897 | 29.266 | 13,8% | 7,5% | 1,7% | 1,5% |
| 16 | 15 | Peugeot 3008 | 2.701 | 33.648 | -3,5% | -11,4% | 1,6% | 1,8% |
| 17 | 18 | Citroen C4 | 2.447 | 25.188 | 55,7% | -4,7% | 1,4% | 1,3% |
| 18 | 17 | Nissan Qashqai | 2.429 | 27.822 | -4,6% | -7,3% | 1,4% | 1,5% |
| 19 | 13 | Renault Mégane | 2.279 | 39.235 | -42,2% | -12,4% | 1,3% | 2,1% |
| 20 | 19 | Ford Fiesta | 2.040 | 24.839 | 10,4% | -0,3% | 1,2% | 1,3% |
| 21 | 20 | Fiat 500 | 2.019 | 22.908 | 5,9% | 3,7% | 1,2% | 1,2% |
| 22 | 24 | Citroen C4 Cactus | 1.914 | 20.567 | -2,2% | 77,3% | 1,1% | 1,1% |
| 23 | 40 | Renault Espace | 1.749 | 10.980 | 182,3% | 1,0% | 0,6% | |
| 24 | 23 | Opel Corsa | 1.702 | 20.830 | 39,1% | 11,8% | 1,0% | 1,1% |
| 24 | 32 | Toyota Auris | 1.702 | 14.460 | 44,5% | 7,7% | 1,0% | 0,8% |
| 25 | 21 | Peugeot 508 | 1.663 | 21.732 | 12,5% | 18,4% | 1,0% | 1,1% |
| 26 | 26 | Nissan Juke | 1.606 | 16.278 | 19,1% | 0,0% | 0,9% | 0,9% |
| 27 | 37 | Mercedes A Class | 1.596 | 12.414 | 7,8% | -0,3% | 0,9% | 0,7% |
| 28 | 42 | Renault Zoe | 1.581 | 10.407 | 33,8% | 74,3% | 0,9% | 0,6% |
| 29 | 28 | Citroen C3 Picasso | 1.398 | 16.094 | 49,8% | -6,8% | 0,8% | 0,9% |
| 30 | 25 | Opel Mokka | 1.373 | 18.270 | -24,0% | 15,3% | 0,8% | 1,0% |
| 31 | 38 | Fiat 500X | 1.361 | 11.644 | 0,8% | 0,6% | ||
| 32 | 49 | Mercedes C Class | 1.321 | 9.305 | 40,5% | 23,6% | 0,8% | 0,5% |
| 33 | 30 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 1.245 | 15.490 | -32,0% | -13,5% | 0,7% | 0,8% |
| 34 | 45 | Seat Ibiza | 1.212 | 9.673 | 19,8% | 1,0% | 0,7% | 0,5% |
| 35 | 52 | Mercedes B Class | 1.201 | 8.868 | 60,3% | -8,0% | 0,7% | 0,5% |
| 36 | 27 | Citroen ds3 | 1.183 | 16.187 | 18,5% | -5,4% | 0,7% | 0,9% |
| 37 | 70 | BMW 2 Series Active Tourer | 1.172 | 6.684 | 0,7% | 0,4% | ||
| 38 | 29 | Peugeot 108 | 1.171 | 16.042 | -14,1% | 106,9% | 0,7% | 0,8% |
| 39 | 62 | Mercedes GLA | 1.161 | 7.348 | -2,6% | 30,2% | 0,7% | 0,4% |
| 40 | 35 | Peugeot 5008 | 1.151 | 13.698 | 27,5% | -4,6% | 0,7% | 0,7% |
