French Sales Up in April; Domestics Lead Way Again

PARIS – French car sales rose 5.8% in April to 166,968 units for the second straight significant improvement driven by growth of the domestic brands. After four months, sales were up 3.7% from like-2013.

In both March and April, the French makes accounted for nearly all the growth, according to data from the CCFA industry association. In April, Renault sales were up 11% and Dacia jumped 45.6% to lead the market, while Peugeot sales climbed 9.9% and Citroen was off 0.5%.

Registrations of non-French brands inched up 0.2%. Nissan, Renault’s alliance partner, grew sales 29.5%, Ford was up 9.9% and Opel 11.9%. Hyundai, Kia, Fiat and BMW all had double-digit losses.

Bernard Cambier, Renault senior vice president-France sales, credits retail buyers of both the Renault and Dacia brands for the group’s result. “We continue to have a good level in the order book, thanks, among other things, to our ‘open house’ operations at dealerships.”

The French brands saw market share drop for the light utility vehicles that traditionally have been one of their strengths in the market. The market is small – 33,454 units in March – but French brands edged up 0.8% to 20,786 units, while competitors were up 4.6%.

After four months, the French brands had 65.6% of the light-utility-vehicle and 56.4% of the car markets. (At the end of 2013, French makes’ share was 52.6% of the car market and 66.8% of light utilities.)

In France and the rest of Europe, SUVs, CUVs and minivans are registered as cars, not trucks, while some cars that have been modified as delivery vehicles are registered as light utilities.

French nameplates, led by the Renault Clio, filled the first 11 spots on the most-sold list through April. The Volkswagen Polo, frequently in the Top 10, was No.11. Among light utility vehicles, the Renault Kangoo and Citroen Berlingo were the top sellers, followed by the Fiat Ducato.

Segments A and B continued growing, with 55% of the French market through April, compared with 52% a year earlier and 50% in 2012. Among body styles, the SUV and CUV segment’s share expanded to 16% this year vs. 12% year-ago.

Diesel-powered cars claimed 65% of sales year-to-date, their lowest level in six years. Diesels’ share was 70% in 2009 and the peak was 73% in 2012. Revised fuel taxes have reduced diesel’s price advantage at the pump, and normally diesel versions of cars are more expensive than their gasoline-powered counterparts.