Dacia Duster III rose to 4th place in August.
This is the fourth consecutive month of annual decline in the French new car market in August, with a sharp drop of -24.3% to just 85,977 units. This is the lowest monthly result registered in France in 10 years, since 83,340 sales in August 2014. This means that August 2024 is also third slowest month in 47 years below August 2014 and August 2013 (85,565). This puts the year-to-date tally in the negative by -0.5% to 1,126,901. Private sales fell by -22%, while company sales fell by -32%. The turbulent political context, as well as high prices and interest rates, weighed on private sales, while companies adopted a wait-and-see approach.
Petrol sales fell -36.6% year-on-year to 27,120 units and 31.5% share versus 37.6% in August 2023, diesel fell -42.6% to 5,861 and 6.8% share versus 9% a year ago, and hybrids were broadly stable at +0.1% to 36,738 and 42.7% share versus 32.3% last year. This included 13,058 MHEVs (+21.8%), 17,518 HEVs (+6.5%) and 6,162 PHEVs (-35.3%). Finally, BEVs disappointed with 13,109 sales versus 19,658 in August 2023 (-33.3%), seeing their market share fall from 17.3% to 15.2%. Year-to-date, petrol cars are down -16.5% to 358,264 and a 31.8% share, compared to 37.9% in the same period in 2023, diesel cars are down -24.8% to 87,728 and a 7.8% share, compared to 10.3%, hybrid cars are up 22.6% to 448,555 and a 39.8% share, compared to 32.3%, including 206,191 HEVs (+31.4%), 153,341 MHEVs (+41.7%) and 89,023 PHEVs (-11.6%). BEVs are up 8.3% to 189,061 and a 16.8% share, compared to 15.4%.
Skoda has entered the top ten best cars in France for the first time.
In the brand rankings, Renault (-26.1%) and Peugeot (-25.4%) are falling faster than the market, both companies have returned to below-year levels of 14.2% versus 15.9% for Renault and 13.8% versus 14% for Peugeot. In third place, Dacia (-16.6%) has 10.3% of the market, the brand’s second penetration in the 10% range this year after reaching a record 11.4% in January last year. This is the fifth time Dacia’s share has exceeded 10%, along with April 2023 (10.5%), December 2022 (10.3%) and June 2022 (10.1%). Toyota (-12.5%) has a strong 7.9% share in 4th place, but Volkswagen (-7.2%) is catching up with 7.3%. Citroen (-45.1%) is in absolute hell with a share of just 5.6%, its lowest this year. Audi (+6%) defies the negative market and climbs three places in the ranking since the beginning of the year, reaching 8th place. Skoda (+7.3%) enters the top 10 French companies for the first time, taking 10th place. Below, look at Seat (+116.9%), Porsche (+53.6%), Jeep (+39.3%) and Land Rover (+23.3%).
In the range, Renault Clio (-29.2%) is back in the lead, ahead of its arch-rival Peugeot 208 (-35.1%), but both models have struggled year on year. Last month’s #1, the Dacia Sandero (-3.4%), is holding on very well in third place. The hero of the month is the new Dacia Duster III, which has climbed four places in July to #4. This is easily the brand’s highest ranking ever, beating #5, which it reached in November 2011 and February 2013. Add in sales of the 2nd generation and we get a combined share of 3.6%, also a record.
VW Polo achieves its highest rating since December 2012.
The VW Polo (+76.2%) is having a fantastic month in 5th place, breaking into the Top 10 for the first time since July 2021 (#10). It’s also the Polo’s highest ranking since December 2012 (#5) and its 6th Top 5 spot, alongside December 2008 (#3), December 2011 (#4), January 2012 (#4), November 2012 (#5) and December 2012 (#5). The Toyota Yaris Cross (-17.2%) falls one place from its record finish in July to #6, as the new Peugeot 3008 III also drops one place to #11. The Fiat 600 and Renault Scenic V both break into the Top 30 for the first time.
Previous month: France, July 2024: Dacia Sandero #1, Toyota Yaris Cross breaks all records
A year ago: France, August 2023: Toyota Yaris Cross, MG 4 reach milestones
Below are the top 20 brands and top 50 models for August 2024.
France August 2024 – brands:
| Pos. | Brand | Aug-24 | % | /23 | July | 2024 | % | /23 | Pos. | FG23 |
| 1 | Renault | 12,193 | 14.2% | – 26.1% | 1 | 179,579 | 15.9% | – 1.2% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Peugeot | 11,875 | 13.8% | – 25.4% | 2 | 158,031 | 14.0% | – 4.4% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Dacia | 8,826 | 10.3% | – 16.6% | 3 | 96,970 | 8.6% | – 5.7% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Toyota | 6,773 | 7.9% | – 12.5% | 4 | 82,926 | 7.4% | + 24.0% | 4 | 6 |
| 5 | Volkswagen | 6,272 | 7.3% | – 7.2% | 5 | 74,704 | 6.6% | – 2.5% | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | Citroen | 4,854 | 5.6% | – 45.1% | 6 | 79,121 | 7.0% | – 5.6% | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | BMW | 3,240 | 3.8% | – 9.0% | 7 | 42,192 | 3.7% | + 20.3% | 7 | 8 |
| 8 | Audi | 3,056 | 3.6% | + 6.0% | 9 | 31,581 | 2.8% | + 2.3% | 8 | 11 |
| 9 | Hyundai | 2,712 | 3.2% | – 15.5% | 10 | 29,644 | 2.6% | – 8.0% | 13 | 12 |
| 10 | Skoda | 2,599 | 3.0% | + 7.3% | 13 | 26,576 | 2.4% | + 17.8% | 14 | 16 |
| 11 | Tesla | 2,523 | 2.9% | – 53.0% | 18 | 24,041 | 2.1% | – 31.8% | 16 | 7 |
| 12 | Opel | 2,495 | 2.9% | – 20.8% | 12 | 31,023 | 2.8% | + 8.2% | 10 | 14 |
| 13 | Mercedes | 2,325 | 2.7% | – 21.0% | 11 | 31,551 | 2.8% | + 10.5% | 9 | 9 |
| 14 | Kia | 2,262 | 2.6% | – 29.7% | 8 | 29,904 | 2.7% | – 5.6% | 12 | 13 |
| 15 | Ford | 1,951 | 2.3% | – 39.2% | 16 | 30,819 | 2.7% | – 6.7% | 11 | 10 |
| 16 | Seat | 1,633 | 1.9% | + 116.9% | 17 | 15,797 | 1.4% | + 34.0% | 19 | 22 |
| 17 | Fiat | 1,458 | 1.7% | – 44.8% | 15 | 24,806 | 2.2% | – 3.4% | 15 | 15 |
| 18 | Suzuki | 1,011 | 1.2% | – 33.3% | 21 | 16,831 | 1.5% | + 26.0% | 18 | 21 |
| 19 | DS | 966 | 1.1% | – 44.5% | 20 | 12,713 | 1.1% | – 25.0% | 20 | 20 |
| 20 | Mini | 922 | 1.1% | – 48.9% | 19 | 11,877 | 1.1% | – 31.6% | 22 | 19 |
France August 2024 – models:
| Pos. | Model | Aug-24 | % | /23 | July | 2024 | % | /23 | Pos. | FG23 |
| 1 | Renault Clio | 5,059 | 5.9% | – 29.2% | 3 | 58,607 | 5.2% | – 6.9% | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Peugeot 208 | 4,745 | 5.5% | – 35.1% | 2 | 60,914 | 5.4% | + 2.6% | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Dacia Sandero | 4,376 | 5.1% | – 3.4% | 1 | 52,246 | 4.6% | + 15.7% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Dacia Duster III | 2,671 | 3.1% | new | 8 | 8,086 | 0.7% | new | 38 | – |
| 5 | Volkswagen Polo | 2,206 | 2.6% | + 76.2% | 12 | 14,506 | 1.3% | – 17.0% | 18 | 17 |
| 6 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 2,190 | 2.5% | – 17.2% | 5 | 21,165 | 1.9% | + 6.3% | 9 | 11 |
| 7 | Peugeot 2008 | 2,165 | 2.5% | – 29.1% | 7 | 34,779 | 3.1% | + 0.7% | 5 | 5 |
| 8 | Tesla Model Y | 2,097 | 2.4% | – 31.3% | 26 | 14,819 | 1.3% | – 33.9% | 16 | 8 |
| 9 | Renault Kaptur | 1,970 | 2.3% | – 24.6% | 6 | 32,266 | 2.9% | – 0.3% | 6 | 6 |
| 10 | Peugeot 308 | 1,857 | 2.2% | – 21.2% | 11 | 25,786 | 2.3% | – 13.5% | 7 | 7 |
| 11 | Peugeot 3008 III | 1,816 | 2.1% | new | 10 | 9,791 | 0.9% | new | 31 | 226 |
| 12 | Toyota Yaris | 1,714 | 2.0% | – 0.2% | 9 | 22,181 | 2.0% | + 24.8% | 8 | 16 |
| 13 | Citroen C3 Aircross | 1,601 | 1.9% | + 15.3% | 22 | 14,724 | 1.3% | + 10.0% | 17 | 22 |
| 14 | Opel Corsa | 1,451 | 1.7% | – 2.7% | 18 | 16,224 | 1.4% | + 21.9% | 12 | 25 |
| 15 | Citroen C3 III | 1,363 | 1.6% | – 73.1% | 4 | 36,164 | 3.2% | – 7.5% | 4 | 4 |
| 16 | Dacia Jogger | 1,271 | 1.5% | – 38.4% | 15 | 15,717 | 1.4% | – 4.7% | 14 | 18 |
| 17 | Renault Austral | 1,110 | 1.3% | – 28.8% | 13 | 17,939 | 1.6% | – 10.4% | 10 | 13 |
| 18 | Hyundai Tucson | 1,081 | 1.3% | + 14.3% | 24 | 10,355 | 0.9% | – 17.6% | 28 | 26 |
| 19 | Citroen C4 III | 952 | 1.1% | + 16.1% | 38 | 12,934 | 1.1% | + 14.2% | 22 | 30 |
| 20 | Toyota Aygo X | 946 | 1.1% | – 3.1% | 32 | 9,655 | 0.9% | + 24.7% | 32 | 38 |
| 21 | Ibiza seat | 939 | 1.1% | + 274.1% | 27 | 7,652 | 0.7% | + 82.1% | 40 | 70 |
| 22 | BMW X1 | 920 | 1.1% | + 2.2% | 21 | 10,391 | 0.9% | + 46.5% | 27 | 39 |
| 23 | Kia Sportage | 911 | 1.1% | + 25.8% | 16 | 10,416 | 0.9% | + 26.9% | 26 | 36 |
| 24 | VW Tiguan III | 832 | 1.0% | new | 17 | 5,093 | 0.5% | new | 61 | – |
| 25 | Ford Puma | 741 | 0.9% | – 57.3% | 41 | 14,229 | 1.3% | – 3.5% | 19 | 20 |
| 26 | Toyota C-HR II | 709 | 0.8% | new | 20 | 9,934 | 0.9% | new | 30 | n/a |
| 27 | Skoda Fabia | 706 | 0.8% | + 7.1% | 42 | 6,266 | 0.6% | + 25.3% | 47 | 58 |
| 28 | Fiat 600 | 679 | 0.8% | new | 39 | 5,270 | 0.5% | new | 57 | 171 |
| 29 | VW T-Roc | 670 | 0.8% | – 44.9% | 33 | 11,863 | 1.1% | – 14.6% | 23 | 21 |
| 30 | Renault Scenic V | 668 | 0.8% | new | 37 | 3,754 | 0.3% | new | 81 | – |
| 31 | Volkswagen Golf | 646 | 0.8% | – 41.7% | 34 | 10,772 | 1.0% | + 25.9% | 24 | 34 |
| 32 | Audi A1 | 646 | 0.8% | + 34.6% | 46 | 4,479 | 0.4% | – 23.3% | 72 | 57 |
| 33 | Hyundai Kona | 632 | 0.7% | – 22.9% | 30 | 7,688 | 0.7% | – 2.3% | 39 | 41 |
| 34 | Citroen C5 Aircross | 627 | 0.7% | – 41.1% | 25 | 10,089 | 0.9% | – 28.3% | 29 | 24 |
| 35 | Toyota Corolla | 617 | 0.7% | – 34.2% | 40 | 8,828 | 0.8% | + 16.6% | 36 | 42 |
| 36 | Fiat 500 | 607 | 0.7% | – 71.8% | 14 | 15,429 | 1.4% | – 28.0% | 15 | 9 |
| 37 | Renault Twingo | 577 | 0.7% | – 35.5% | 35 | 15,806 | 1.4% | + 53.5% | 13 | 28 |
| 38 | Renault Megane E-Tech | 555 | 0.6% | – 29.8% | 19 | 13,330 | 1.2% | + 18.2% | 21 | 27 |
| 39 | Audi Q3 | 546 | 0.6% | – 23.7% | 47 | 6,759 | 0.6% | + 1.8% | 45 | 47 |
| 40 | Renault Arkana | 536 | 0.6% | – 69.4% | 36 | 13,727 | 1.2% | – 29.9% | 20 | 15 |
| 41 | Peugeot 5008 II | 535 | 0.6% | – 45.6% | 28 | 8,484 | 0.8% | – 29.5% | 37 | 32 |
| 42 | Jeep Avenger | 530 | 0.6% | + 476.1% | 49 | 5,429 | 0.5% | + 478.2% | 55 | 133 |
| 43 | Mercedes GLA | 507 | 0.6% | – 17.0% | 56 | 6,652 | 0.6% | + 6.3% | 46 | 40 |
| 44 | Renault Espace | 503 | 0.6% | + 61.2% | 44 | 7,412 | 0.7% | + 384.4% | 42 | 74 |
| 45 | Ford Kuga | 499 | 0.6% | – 29.8% | 48 | 7,118 | 0.6% | – 15.7% | 43 | 37 |
| 46 | Skoda Enyaq | 497 | 0.6% | + 78.1% | 92 | 2,995 | 0.3% | + 36.1% | 89 | 93 |
| 47 | Suzuki Swift | 484 | 0.6% | – 31.3% | 57 | 6,961 | 0.6% | + 15.7% | 44 | 48 |
| 48 | Aaron’s Seat | 455 | 0.5% | + 193.5% | 62 | 4,898 | 0.4% | + 43.9% | 62 | 88 |
| 49 | BMW iX1 | 451 | 0.5% | + 114.8% | 65 | 5,890 | 0.5% | + 340.9% | 52 | 100 |
| 50 | Mercedes GLS | 436 | 0.5% | – 43.9% | 45 | 5,173 | 0.5% | + 0.2% | 59 | 49 |
Source: PFA
