by The Renault Clio V and Dacia Sandero III are the best-selling vehicles in France in May. Picture largus.fr
The French new car market is up 46.4% year-on-year in May to 141.041 units, lifting the year-to-date tally up 50.1% to 723.258. However when comparing with two years ago pre-pandemic levels, May 2021 volumes remain significantly down at -27.3% on May 2019 (193.948) while year-to-date sales are down -22.7% on the same period in 2019 (935.478). According to AAA Data, private consumers are still hesitant to enter the new car market with private sales low this month at just 40% share. In contrast, company sales gain share at 15% vs. 14% in May 2020 and 12% in May 2019, as do short-term rental sales up to 17% vs. 8% in May 2020 and 19% in 2019. Demo sales are stable at 13%, the same share as in May 2020. Hybrid vehicles incl. PHEV account for a whopping 26% share thanks to 36.221 units, to be compared with 12% in May 2020 and 5% in May 2019. They are now above diesel sales down to a lowest-ever 22% share for the month (30.818 units). BEV sales remain at 8% share with 11.562 sales.
All evolutions are vs. May 2019. For the first time this year, Renault (-27.3%) reclaims the top spot in the brands ranking at 18.6% share while matching the market. It takes advantage of Peugeot skidding -35.1% to 16% share, however Peugeot easily remains the #1 carmaker year-to-date at 18.5% share vs. 16% for Renault and a difference of 18.450 sales. Citroen (-41.8%) is in dire straits, falling to just 8.7% share vs. 9.9% so far this year. Volkswagen (-5.2%) resists best in the Top 10 and threepeats at #4 with a strong 7.7% share vs. 6.5% so far this year. It however remains #5 year-to-date below Dacia (-27.9%). Toyota (-13.1%) halves the market drop and falls back to the 6th place it holds YTD. Audi (-5.4%) is the only additional Top 10 brand managing a single-digit loss just as competitors BMW (-27.8%) and Mercedes (-36.3%) struggle. Ford (-42.1%) endures the steepest fall in the Top 10. Below, Tesla (+411.1%), Mini (+19.1%), Hyundai (+8%), Volvo (+6%) and Honda (+4.7%) are the only mainstream carmakers sporting a gain vs. two years ago while Skoda (-1.9%), Seat (-3.8%) and Jeep (-3.6%) contain their loss. Newcomer MG is up 8 spots on April to a record #25 while Cupra remains at #29 and Aiways at #37.
Over in the models ranking, the Renault Clio V (+140.7%) repeats at #1 and sells 2.500 units more than any other nameplate this month. This however is not enough to surpass its archenemy the Peugeot 208 II in the year-to-date charts, as the latter still leads by 1.790 units at end-May even though it only ranked #3 this month. The Dacia Sandero III leaps up four spots on April to land in 2nd place overall for the month, and is up to #4 year-to-date, discarding the Citroen C3 (-32.1%) in difficulty this month at #7 overall. The Peugeot 2008 II dips one spot to #4 ahead of the Renault Captur II up two to #5 and the Peugeot 3008 (-33.7%) down two to #6. The Renault Zoe (+93.6%) marks a spectacular return in the Top 10, up 17 spots on last month to #9. The VW Polo (-1.1%) is up ten to #10, its first Top 10 finish since December 2019 and snapping the #1 foreigner title off the Toyota Yaris (-32.7%) down one rank to #11. The VW Golf (+7.3%) is back up 19 spots to #17 while the Tesla Model 3 (+557.65) is up 101 to #17.
Previous month: France April 2021: Renault Clio V back on top, Hyundai (+19.8%) impresses, sales down -25.4% on two years ago
One year ago: France May 2020: Market drops -50.2% as lockdown is lifted, worst May in 52 years
Full May 2021 Top 50 All-brands, Top 50 models and Top 10 EVs below.
France May 2021 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | May-21 | % | /20 | /19 | Apr | 2021 | % | /20 | Pos | FY20 |
| 1 | Renault | 26,168 | 18.6% | 45.0% | -27.3% | 2 | 115,638 | 16.0% | 26.9% | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Peugeot | 22,623 | 16.0% | 48.7% | -35.1% | 1 | 134,088 | 18.5% | 43.6% | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Citroen | 12,304 | 8.7% | 28.6% | -41.8% | 3 | 71,867 | 9.9% | 36.0% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Volkswagen | 10,885 | 7.7% | 74.5% | -5.2% | 4 | 47,236 | 6.5% | 78.9% | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Dacia | 9,387 | 6.7% | 47.8% | -27.9% | 6 | 48,087 | 6.6% | 99.1% | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | Toyota | 7,681 | 5.4% | 26.9% | -13.1% | 5 | 42,561 | 5.9% | 50.8% | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Audi | 4,996 | 3.5% | 69.2% | -5.4% | 8 | 21,024 | 2.9% | 72.5% | 9 | 10 |
| 8 | BMW | 4,018 | 2.8% | 49.5% | -27.8% | 9 | 20,758 | 2.9% | 57.5% | 10 | 9 |
| 9 | Mercedes | 3,949 | 2.8% | 28.3% | -36.3% | 7 | 21,523 | 3.0% | 76.8% | 8 | 8 |
| 10 | Ford | 3,787 | 2.7% | 10.4% | -42.1% | 12 | 22,514 | 3.1% | 53.1% | 7 | 7 |
| 11 | Hyundai | 3,622 | 2.6% | 55.1% | 8.0% | 10 | 18,016 | 2.5% | 67.7% | 11 | 14 |
| 12 | Fiat | 3,520 | 2.5% | 56.7% | -53.8% | 14 | 16,422 | 2.3% | 47.3% | 14 | 12 |
| 13 | Opel | 3,276 | 2.3% | 26.2% | -51.9% | 11 | 17,521 | 2.4% | 18.2% | 13 | 11 |
| 14 | Kia | 3,197 | 2.3% | 27.7% | -16.8% | 13 | 17,636 | 2.4% | 56.9% | 12 | 13 |
| 15 | Skoda | 3,098 | 2.2% | 55.9% | -1.9% | 15 | 14,588 | 2.0% | 80.2% | 15 | 16 |
| 16 | Seat | 2,908 | 2.1% | 68.4% | -3.8% | 16 | 13,448 | 1.9% | 75.5% | 16 | 17 |
| 17 | Tesla | 2,111 | 1.5% | 684.8% | 411.1% | 30 | 8,110 | 1.1% | 147.1% | 21 | 23 |
| 18 | Mini | 2,096 | 1.5% | 8.5% | 19.1% | 17 | 11,149 | 1.5% | 73.4% | 18 | 19 |
| 19 | DS | 1,671 | 1.2% | 42.1% | -24.8% | 19 | 9,307 | 1.3% | 4.4% | 20 | 18 |
| 20 | Suzuki | 1,577 | 1.1% | 158.1% | -26.1% | 20 | 9,937 | 1.4% | 147.5% | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | Volvo | 1,541 | 1.1% | 46.5% | 6.0% | 21 | 7,247 | 1.0% | 71.4% | 22 | 21 |
| 22 | Nissan | 1,408 | 1.0% | -13.8% | -54.7% | 18 | 12,532 | 1.7% | 18.7% | 17 | 15 |
| 23 | Jeep | 834 | 0.6% | 206.6% | -3.6% | 23 | 3,801 | 0.5% | 223.5% | 24 | 24 |
| 24 | Mazda | 795 | 0.6% | 29.3% | -8.9% | 22 | 4,145 | 0.6% | 66.9% | 23 | 22 |
| 25 | MG | 660 | 0.5% | 65900.0% | new | 33 | 1,115 | 0.2% | 12288.9% | 30 | 34 |
| 26 | Honda | 580 | 0.4% | 130.2% | 4.7% | 26 | 2,305 | 0.3% | 57.7% | 26 | 26 |
| 27 | Land Rover | 496 | 0.4% | 85.1% | -20.1% | 24 | 2,606 | 0.4% | 71.7% | 25 | 27 |
| 28 | Lexus | 391 | 0.3% | 43.2% | -31.8% | 25 | 1,961 | 0.3% | 20.4% | 27 | 25 |
| 29 | Cupra | 353 | 0.3% | new | new | 29 | 1,249 | 0.2% | new | 29 | 36 |
| 30 | Porsche | 338 | 0.2% | -4.2% | -22.3% | 28 | 1,386 | 0.2% | 0.8% | 28 | 29 |
| 31 | Jaguar | 220 | 0.2% | 201.4% | -28.6% | 27 | 812 | 0.1% | 57.7% | 31 | 32 |
| 32 | Alfa Romeo | 159 | 0.1% | 27.2% | -45.0% | 35 | 529 | 0.1% | 5.0% | 34 | 30 |
| 33 | Smart | 118 | 0.1% | 57.3% | -81.7% | 31 | 666 | 0.1% | 101.8% | 32 | 31 |
| 34 | Mitsubishi | 79 | 0.1% | -62.4% | -84.1% | 32 | 610 | 0.1% | -43.4% | 33 | 28 |
| 35 | Alpine | 68 | 0.0% | -12.8% | -77.3% | 34 | 362 | 0.1% | 143.0% | 35 | 33 |
| 36 | Ferrari | 25 | 0.0% | 127.3% | -13.8% | 36 | 119 | 0.0% | 221.6% | 36 | 35 |
| 37 | Aiways | 19 | 0.0% | new | new | 37 | 85 | 0.0% | new | 37 | 41 |
| 38 | Lotus | 12 | 0.0% | 140.0% | -20.0% | 44 | 29 | 0.0% | 141.7% | 42 | 40 |
| 39 | Caterham | 10 | 0.0% | n/a | 0.0% | 40 | 53 | 0.0% | 5200.0% | 38 | 42 |
| 40 | Aston Martin | 8 | 0.0% | 60.0% | 166.7% | 47 | 15 | 0.0% | 114.3% | 45 | 45 |
| 41 | Maserati | 6 | 0.0% | n/a | -73.9% | 41 | 30 | 0.0% | 275.0% | 41 | 38 |
| 42 | Secma | 5 | 0.0% | n/a | 0.0% | 39 | 28 | 0.0% | 40.0% | 43 | 46 |
| 43 | Morgan | 5 | 0.0% | n/a | -44.4% | 45 | 16 | 0.0% | 1500.0% | 44 | 47 |
| 44 | SsangYong | 4 | 0.0% | 100.0% | -33.3% | 42 | 53 | 0.0% | 430.0% | 39 | 37 |
| 45 | Lamborghini | 4 | 0.0% | -20.0% | -66.7% | 38 | 40 | 0.0% | 166.7% | 40 | 43 |
| 46 | DFSK | 4 | 0.0% | new | new | – | 5 | 0.0% | new | 49 | – |
| 47 | Bentley | 3 | 0.0% | n/a | -62.5% | 46 | 15 | 0.0% | -25.0% | 46 | 44 |
| 48 | McLaren | 3 | 0.0% | n/a | 200.0% | – | 5 | 0.0% | 150.0% | 48 | 50 |
| 49 | Subaru | 2 | 0.0% | -33.3% | -95.2% | 43 | 12 | 0.0% | -66.7% | 47 | 39 |
| 50 | Rolls-Royce | 0 | 0.0% | n/a | n/a | 48 | 3 | 0.0% | -57.1% | 50 | 49 |
| 51 | MPM Motors | 0 | 0.0% | n/a | -100.0% | – | 3 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 51 | 48 |
| 52 | Cadillac | 0 | 0.0% | n/a | -100.0% | – | 3 | 0.0% | n/a | 52 | 53 |
| 53 | Lancia | 0 | 0.0% | n/a | n/a | 49 | 1 | 0.0% | n/a | 53 | – |
| – | Others | 17 | 0.0% | n/a | -67.9% | – | 17 | 0.0% | n/a | – | – |
France May 2021 – models:
| Pos | Model | May-21 | % | /20 | /19 | Apr | 2021 | % | /20 | Pos | FY20 |
| 1 | Renault Clio V | 8,828 | 6.3% | 56.8% | 140.7% | 1 | 37,865 | 5.2% | 55.9% | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Dacia Sandero III | 6,296 | 4.5% | new | new | 6 | 29,144 | 4.0% | new | 4 | 265 |
| 3 | Peugeot 208 II | 6,285 | 4.5% | 33.5% | new | 2 | 39,655 | 5.5% | 35.9% | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Peugeot 2008 II | 6,244 | 4.4% | 100.5% | new | 3 | 33,513 | 4.6% | 120.4% | 3 | 3 |
| 5 | Renault Captur II | 4,999 | 3.5% | 74.8% | new | 7 | 23,678 | 3.3% | 82.9% | 7 | 5 |
| 6 | Peugeot 3008 | 4,749 | 3.4% | 92.0% | -33.7% | 4 | 25,199 | 3.5% | 63.5% | 6 | 7 |
| 7 | Citroen C3 | 4,566 | 3.2% | 29.1% | -32.1% | 5 | 29,030 | 4.0% | 66.7% | 5 | 4 |
| 8 | Renault Mégane | 2,999 | 2.1% | 103.2% | -37.7% | 9 | 14,772 | 2.0% | 66.8% | 10 | 14 |
| 9 | Renault Zoe | 2,577 | 1.8% | 121.2% | 93.6% | 26 | 7,448 | 1.0% | -36.0% | 24 | 9 |
| 10 | VW Polo | 2,529 | 1.8% | 68.4% | -1.1% | 20 | 10,910 | 1.5% | 76.1% | 14 | 17 |
| 11 | Toyota Yaris | 2,502 | 1.8% | 23.9% | -32.7% | 10 | 15,987 | 2.2% | 56.5% | 8 | 11 |
| 12 | Renault Twingo | 2,360 | 1.7% | -9.0% | -48.6% | 8 | 15,742 | 2.2% | 34.3% | 9 | 8 |
| 13 | Dacia Duster | 2,294 | 1.6% | 19.0% | -49.0% | 12 | 12,418 | 1.7% | 66.8% | 11 | 12 |
| 14 | Fiat 500 | 2,201 | 1.6% | 125.3% | -39.8% | 15 | 10,085 | 1.4% | 104.5% | 17 | 20 |
| 15 | Citroen C3 Aircross | 2,167 | 1.5% | 10.4% | -47.0% | 13 | 11,907 | 1.6% | 10.0% | 12 | 13 |
| 16 | VW Golf | 2,127 | 1.5% | 253.9% | 7.3% | 36 | 6,723 | 0.9% | 107.2% | 29 | 22 |
| 17 | Tesla Model 3 | 2,111 | 1.5% | 863.9% | 557.6% | 118 | 8,083 | 1.1% | 174.7% | 20 | 65 |
| 18 | Peugeot 5008 | 1,799 | 1.3% | 82.1% | -24.1% | 11 | 10,726 | 1.5% | 42.4% | 15 | 18 |
| 19 | Citroen C4 III | 1,747 | 1.2% | new | new | 14 | 7,607 | 1.1% | new | 23 | 160 |
| 20 | Hyundai Tucson | 1,705 | 1.2% | 292.9% | 95.1% | 22 | 7,249 | 1.0% | 209.7% | 25 | 64 |
| 21 | VW T-Roc | 1,695 | 1.2% | 36.3% | -5.3% | 18 | 8,681 | 1.2% | 85.9% | 18 | 27 |
| 22 | Ford Puma | 1,611 | 1.1% | 82.9% | new | 27 | 8,188 | 1.1% | 158.2% | 19 | 25 |
| 23 | Citroen C5 Aircross | 1,596 | 1.1% | 22.7% | -54.9% | 17 | 10,373 | 1.4% | 26.1% | 16 | 15 |
| 24 | Opel Corsa | 1,511 | 1.1% | 24.3% | -24.3% | 21 | 7,771 | 1.1% | 5.2% | 21 | 16 |
| 25 | Renault Scénic | 1,444 | 1.0% | 36.7% | -68.6% | 29 | 5,464 | 0.8% | -1.7% | 36 | 21 |
| 26 | Toyota C-HR | 1,427 | 1.0% | 25.7% | -4.2% | 23 | 7,024 | 1.0% | 39.5% | 27 | 29 |
| 27 | Toyota Corolla | 1,414 | 1.0% | 35.6% | 122.7% | 19 | 7,695 | 1.1% | 47.0% | 22 | 26 |
| 28 | VW T-Cross | 1,404 | 1.0% | 57.0% | 93.7% | 16 | 6,746 | 0.9% | 99.5% | 28 | 35 |
| 29 | Mini Hatch | 1,392 | 1.0% | 6.2% | 56.8% | 31 | 7,126 | 1.0% | 79.5% | 26 | 34 |
| 30 | VW Tiguan | 1,365 | 1.0% | 7.8% | -34.9% | 24 | 5,492 | 0.8% | 8.3% | 35 | 30 |
| 31 | Toyota Aygo | 1,327 | 0.9% | 41.9% | 5.9% | 32 | 6,362 | 0.9% | 67.6% | 30 | 33 |
| 32 | Peugeot 308 | 1,286 | 0.9% | -21.0% | -74.9% | 37 | 11,175 | 1.5% | -2.9% | 13 | 10 |
| 33 | Audi Q3 | 1,230 | 0.9% | 76.5% | -14.3% | 38 | 4,467 | 0.6% | 58.6% | 44 | 49 |
| 34 | Seat Ibiza | 1,116 | 0.8% | 171.5% | 78.8% | 25 | 4,831 | 0.7% | 210.3% | 42 | 63 |
| 35 | Mercedes Classe A | 1,070 | 0.8% | 17.6% | -42.6% | 28 | 5,983 | 0.8% | 55.6% | 32 | 28 |
| 36 | Peugeot 108 | 1,013 | 0.7% | 4.6% | -43.8% | 52 | 5,682 | 0.8% | 8.7% | 34 | 24 |
| 37 | Renault Kadjar | 987 | 0.7% | -9.6% | -58.9% | 34 | 5,862 | 0.8% | 1.8% | 33 | 19 |
| 38 | Volvo XC40 | 979 | 0.7% | 128.7% | 34.1% | 49 | 3,830 | 0.5% | 102.0% | 52 | 51 |
| 39 | Audi A1 | 972 | 0.7% | 59.1% | 15.4% | 42 | 3,765 | 0.5% | 53.9% | 53 | 61 |
| 40 | Hyundai Kona | 914 | 0.6% | -16.7% | -10.2% | 30 | 4,829 | 0.7% | 16.3% | 43 | 31 |
| 41 | Audi A3 | 913 | 0.6% | 82.6% | 30.6% | 45 | 3,946 | 0.5% | 124.8% | 49 | 56 |
| 42 | BMW Série 1 | 884 | 0.6% | 21.9% | 54.3% | 33 | 4,989 | 0.7% | 69.2% | 39 | 47 |
| 43 | DS 7 Crossback | 853 | 0.6% | 17.2% | -17.8% | 41 | 5,008 | 0.7% | 3.2% | 38 | 38 |
| 44 | Citroen C1 | 844 | 0.6% | 16.4% | -44.5% | 60 | 4,865 | 0.7% | 24.6% | 40 | 36 |
| 45 | Toyota RAV4 | 790 | 0.6% | 38.6% | -36.3% | 54 | 3,922 | 0.5% | 71.3% | 50 | 55 |
| 46 | Ford Fiesta | 780 | 0.6% | -29.7% | -64.3% | 43 | 6,265 | 0.9% | 20.9% | 31 | 23 |
| 47 | Opel Crossland | 779 | 0.6% | 17.1% | -30.6% | 40 | 4,077 | 0.6% | 14.2% | 48 | 46 |
| 48 | Suzuki Swift | 771 | 0.5% | 219.9% | -18.9% | 44 | 5,093 | 0.7% | 146.8% | 37 | 42 |
| 49 | DS 3 Crossback | 760 | 0.5% | 69.6% | -0.3% | 46 | 4,161 | 0.6% | 2.4% | 45 | 43 |
| 50 | Peugeot 508 | 702 | 0.5% | 27.9% | -56.1% | 47 | 3,866 | 0.5% | -3.7% | 51 | 44 |
France May 2021 – EV models:
| Pos | Model | May-21 |
| 1 | Renault Zoe | 2,577 |
| 2 | Tesla Model 3 | 2,111 |
| 3 | Peugeot e-208 | 1,199 |
| 4 | Fiat 500e | 845 |
| 5 | Renault Twingo ZE | 490 |
| 6 | Kia e-Niro | 434 |
| 7 | Hyundai Kona EV | 414 |
| 8 | Peugeot e-2008 | 405 |
| 9 | Mini Cooper SE | 395 |
| 10 | VW ID.3 | 365 |
Source: CCFA, AAA Data
