While the economic context pushes the French to watch the slightest expense, the French automobile market, especially new car registrations, continues to show the good momentum that began 10 months ago. Between January and May 2023, 698,931 new passenger cars were registered, an increase of 16.32% compared to the same period of 2022, which had two more working days (105 days). However, this is a decrease of 25% compared to 2019, the year which preceded the Covid crisis.
AAA Data, the provider of official figures for the Automobile & Mobilities sector (PFA), announces a prolific month of May 2023 with 145,538 registrations of new passenger cars, an increase of 14.8% compared to April 2022 Despite this euphoria, AAA Data clarifies that one should not “forget that the basis of comparison remains weak. And that the level of orders is falling (-16% cumulatively from January to April), but that sooner or later the trend will be reversed“.
Good performance by French manufacturers
This beautiful month of May was once again successful for French manufacturers, whose registrations continue to progress, starting with the Stellantis group (+ 6.45%) with Peugeot (+ 7.64%), the astonishing Citroën (+ 13.57%) or DS (+25.82%). On the other hand, it gets stuck for Opel (-15.37%). Among the other brands of the group, Alfa Romeo confirms – once again – its good health of last month with +153.61% increase, while Jeep goes up (+20.38%) and Maserati makes 100% increase , going from 5 to 10 cars sold. On the other hand, Fiat continues to fall even if the fall is limited (-7.74%).
The Renault group has a smile on its face: it shows an increase of 18.62%, in particular with a Dacia which is once again a hit (+27.84%) against +13.79% for the diamond brand. Even Alpine is celebrating, compared to last month, with an increase of 39.51%.
On the side of foreign manufacturers, registrations are mostly in the green. The Volkswagen group continues to show good growth (+21.69%), once again driven by Cupra (+66.04%), Porsche (+29.24%), Seat (+21.19%), Skoda (+20.72%) and of course Volkswagen, himself (+34.51%). There is a small drop in speed for Audi (-8.46%). The group’s luxury brands such as Lamborghini (-22.22%) and Bentley (-57.14%) are still suffering the effects of the crisis.
Volvo (+103.62%), Suzuki (+48.75%), Nissan (+30.30%), Toyota (+4.95%), BMW/Mini (+3.90%) and Jaguar Land- Rover (+90.61%) are on the rise. Note the decline of the Hyundai / Kia group (-9.88%) despite the good health of Hyundai (+8.89%), Kia posting a result at half mast (-24.52%). Same thing with Mitsubishi, which went from green to red in one month (-47.87%).
Already not in great shape the previous two months, Ford (-1.84%) and the Daimler group (-16.78%) remain glued to the bottom of the rankings.
Formerly categorized as “Others“, Tesla is now well identified as a manufacturer in its own right. Last month, the American manufacturer posted + 1780% with 2435 vehicles sold. This month, the increase is 2539.47% with 4012 cars registered. is more than Kia, Nissan, Seat or Skoda Tesla is hot on the heels of manufacturers such as Mercedes (4245), Fiat (4213), Audi (4147) or Ford (4123).
Electric reaches 16% market share
The current seems to be going well with individuals, who are in favor of electric motorization with 22,666 units acquired, a huge increase of 49%. The market share has now reached 16%.
For Marie-Laure Nivot, Market Intelligence Manager at AAA DATA: “It is interesting to note that the energy mix is particularly favorable to electricity for individuals. Electric vehicles thus represent 21% of their purchases, compared to 16% for the overall market.“.
The increase also concerns hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the sector of which gained 19% with 47,075 registrations. In detail, the share of rechargeable hybrids or PHEV is 12%, or 12,624 vehicles.
On the other hand, on the fossil fuel side, petrol engines increased by 18% while diesel continued to decline (-32%).
Number one in sales in May 2023, the Dacia Sandero should seduce with its new Extreme finish. © Erick Fontaine / Digital
Here are the top 20 global registrations:
SALES OF NEW PASSENGER CARS IN MAY 2023
| RANK | MANUFACTURER MODELS | VOLUME |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RENAULT CLIO V | 8414 |
| 2 | PEUGEOT 208 | 7437 |
| 3 | DACIA SANDERO 3 | 5548 |
| 4 | PEUGEOT 2008 | 5238 |
| 5 | CITROEN C3 | 4826 |
| 6 | RENAULT ARKANA | 4219 |
| 7 | RENAULT CAPTUR | 4091 |
| 8 | PEUGEOT 308 | 3765 |
| 9 | FIAT 500 | 3504 |
| 10 | RENAULT AUSTRAL | 3131 |
| 11 | RENAULT MEGANE | 3086 |
| 12 | DACIA DUSTER | 2854 |
| 13 | PEUGEOT 3008 | 2826 |
| 14 | TESLA MODEL Y | 2709 |
| 15 | TOYOTA YARIS | 2655 |
| 16 | VOLKSWAGEN POLO | 2291 |
| 17 | DACIA JOGGER | 2205 |
| 18 | VOLKSWAGEN T-ROC | 2051 |
| 19 | TOYOTA YARIS CROSS | 1978 |
| 20 | DACIA SPRING | 1897 |
Remember that the sales figures of the Stellantis group, whose models appear in the top 20, do not make a distinction between thermal and electric engines, not to mention the hybrid and rechargeable hybrid versions. Thus, the Peugeot 208 II sold at 7437 units includes the 1914 electric copies. Identical situation for the SUV Peugeot 2008 II, registered at 5238 units, including 563 electric, and the Fiat 500 (3504 units including 2601 electric). We can also mention the Opel Corsa in 24th position, whose sales for the month of April amounted to 1,597 copies, including 491 electric.
The May 2023 ranking of sales of electrified vehicles (hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric) will be the subject of three separate articles, as every month.