With 1,659,146 registrations, 2021 is below the expectations of the French automotive sector. In question, the shortage of semiconductors and a certain wait-and-see attitude of households. The only consolation is that electricity is close to 10% market share.
The Christmas miracle did not take place on the French car market in 2021. According to data provided by Autoways, 1,659,146 new cars were registered against 1,650,186 in 2020, ie + 0.5%. As a result, the sector is lagging behind for the second consecutive year.
The figures for December did not help matters with only 158,130 registrations, a drop of 15.13% compared to 186,325 registrations in December 2020, despite the advantage of an additional working day.
However, the start of the year had started rather well, but that was without taking into account the global shortage of semiconductors which brought some production lines to a halt, resulting in delivery delays of between four and nine months. . The container crisis has not helped either. To this is added a certain wait-and-see attitude from households who preferred to turn to the second-hand market, whose registrations jumped 7.9% in 2021 to reach 6,070,013 million, a record.
The electrified vehicle market (electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid) continues to rise. Thus, the share of the 100% electric car reached 9.77% over the year 2021 with 162,118 registrations. A jump of 46.14% compared to the previous year and its 110,936 registrations.
In the plug-in hybrid vehicle segment, the market share reached 8.5% with 141,008 registrations, i.e. a positive variation of 85.12% compared to 2020. It should be noted that in these registrations are recorded 7,100 diesel plug-in hybrid vehicles ( 0.43% market share).
These are hybrid vehicles (full hybrid in English) gasoline which remain the most popular with 251,457 registrations for a market share of 15.16% and growth of 71.68% compared to 2020. We should not forget the diesel hybrid with 35,027 registrations ( market share of 2.11%), i.e. + 56.21%.
French manufacturers in the top three
Despite the health crisis, the shortage of semiconductors and the ambient wait, French manufacturers are not doing too badly. First on the podium, we find Peugeot (Stellantis group) with 285,966 new vehicles sold in 2021, followed by Renault (268,975) and Citroën (Stellantis group) with 166,926 units sold.
Note the fine fourth place of Dacia (125,207 vehicles) and the 10th and 11th places of Hyundai (45,248) and Kia (44,217) which are behind the German leaders of BMW (9th), Audi (8th) and Mercedes ( 7th).
Dacia Sandero, the one we weren’t expecting
In the top 20 best-selling vehicles in 2021, nine are French and one Japanese: the Toyota Yaris produced in Europe, which takes 8th place (32,302 units). In the first two places, we inevitably find the Peugeot 208 (88,057) and Renault Clio (85,385). Dacia and the Sandero occupy the third step of the podium with 77,054 units sold, while the Duster is in ninth position (31,060). Renault can also warmly thank the low cost brand and Alpine which, together, allowed the French to limit breakage (-14.5%).
Tesla Model 3 crowned electric queen
In the top 20 best-selling new cars in 2021 on the French market, 14th place is occupied by a certain Tesla Model 3. It is also the first electric car to appear in this general ranking.
In the top 20 of the pure electrics, the first place goes to the Model 3 with 24 911 units, followed by the Renault Zoe (23,575) and the Peugeot e-208 (17,865). The Dacia Spring created the event with 11,386 units sold, a feat knowing that it recently arrived in dealerships.
The electric Fiat 500 (Stellantis group) continues on its way. It is placed in 5th place with 9,556 copies, followed by the Renault Twingo (8837) which intends to resist before being definitively replaced by the future Renault R5.
Other resistant, the Nissan Leaf (3532 copies) and BMW i3 (1678), which respectively occupy the 12th and 19th places. Finally, we will note the beautiful courses of MG and its ZS (1913) in 17th place, but also Tesla Model Y (21st, 1507 units) and Kia EV6 (22nd, 1406).
The plug-in hybrid, the preserve of the French
With 6 models in the first 10 places, French manufacturers reign supreme in the plug-in hybrid segment. Thus, on the first three steps of the podium, we find the Peugeot 3008 (16,962 units), the Renault Captur (8180) and the Citroën C5 Aircross (7097). The DS DS7 Crossback is only 5th with 5834 units sold, while the Peugeot 508 (3917) and Renault Megane (3699) occupy the 8th and 9th places.
The four other manufacturers of this 2021 top 10 plug-in hybrids are the Mercedes GLC (4th, 6849 units), Volvo XC40 (6th, 4700) and XC60 (10th, 3479), as well as the Hyundai Tucson (7th, 4089).
The Toyota Yaris is the leader with 28,432 units sold. Very far behind, follow the Renault Captur E-Tech (20,474), Clio E-Tech (19,892) and Arkana E-Tech (17,977). The 5th and 6th places go to the Toyota Corolla (16,867) and the Toyota CH-R (14,566).
The year 2022 does not look particularly good. According to Éric Champarnaud, President Autoways, “In 2002, the problems of supplying electronic chips, the production capacities of which were undermined by the health crisis, will persist. On the other hand, normalization in the form of slowing economic growth will occur. Also, a rapid and powerful recovery of the markets does not represent the main scenario for 2022 ”.