City cars and SUVs monopolize the top of the ranking.
And the best-selling car in France in 2021 is … the Dacia Sandero. The city car of the Romanian brand – which belongs to Renault – has sold more than 67,000 copies this year from individuals, according to data C-Ways / Autoways (stopped on December 26) transmitted to the Figaro.
Read alsoCars without a license are popular among young people
It is well ahead of two Peugeot models, the 208 (35,000 registrations) and the 2008 (27,000). The ranking produced by Autoways, the automotive branch of C-Ways, a marketing consulting firm specializing in data, highlights the success of SUVs among the French. There are in fact three models of this type of vehicle in the top 10: in addition to the Peugeot 2008 (3rd), there are the Renault Captur (4th) and the Dacia Duster (5th).
The Tesla Model 3 also made a sensational entry into the top 10. After selling nearly 4,000 copies last year, it has multiplied its sales by five in 2021 (more than 18,000), thus positioning itself at 8th place, between the Toyota Yaris (7th) – the only one of the top 10 to be “made in France», Because produced near Valenciennes (Nord) – and the Citroën C3 (9th). The Tesla is the only 100% electric model to feature in the top ten positions – the Renault Zoe is only 11th.
Read alsoCar of the Year 2022, the seven finalists
Among the models released in 2021, the Renault Arkana, another SUV, is doing the best. It is in 19th position for the best-selling cars this year (nearly 9,000 registrations), just ahead of the Dacia Spring, 21st (8,000).
If we take sales across all channels (individuals, companies, rental companies, administrations, etc.), the ranking is turned upside down. It is the Peugeot 208 which indeed comes first (nearly 84,000 registrations), just ahead of the Renault Clio (82,000). The Dacia Sandero slips to third place (76,000). The Peugeot 2008 and the Citroën C3 complete the top 5. By brand, Peugeot dominates, with 274,000 vehicles sold (17% market share), ahead of Renault (261,000, 16.2%) and Citroën (156,000, 9.7% ). Dacia is at the foot of the podium, ahead of Volkswagen.