The French automotive market still at its lowest in 2021

No improvement for the French automotive market in 2021. According to provisional registration data from NGC Data
published this Friday by L’Argus, only 1.66 million units were sold this year, a volume close to its historically low level of 2020 (+ 0.5% compared to 2020), due in particular to the health crisis and the shortage of electronic chips .

“The comparison with the 2019 financial year is scary,” notes L’Argus, highlighting a 25% drop in sales, or 554,000 cars. Manufacturers are not equal in the face of the crisis: Peugeot is for the first time N ° 1 in sales ahead of Renault, with a market share of 17.2%, and despite a drop in sales of 6.1%. The Stellantis group brand is driven by the success of its compact 208, number 1 in sales in 2021, and its 2008 and 3008 SUVs.

Renault sales decline 14.7%

Renault saw its sales fall by 14.7% over one year and its market share fall to 16.2%, or nearly 140,000 vehicles less than in 2019. Excluding sales to professionals, it is however the economic brand of the Renault group, Dacia, which ranks No. 1 in sales with its Sandero.

Ford, Nissan and Opel also lost market share this year. On the contrary, Hyundai-Kia, Toyota and Tesla have had an excellent year thanks to their electric and hybrid offerings.

Record level for electric vehicles

On the French market, electrics reach an unprecedented 9.8% market share with nearly 162,000 vehicles sold (+ 45.6% over one year). The Tesla Model 3 becomes number one in electric sales for the first time, ahead of the Renault Zoé.

Hybrids now represent more than 17% of sales, and plug-in hybrids more than 8%. Together, these hybrid engines have overtaken Diesel (21.1%, -31% in volume over one year).

Gasoline-powered cars represent 40.2% of sales, with volume down 14.2%.