There was no longer any hope of having a good year in 2024 on the new car market in France since the bad months had been coming one after the other since the summer. With 1,718,417 new passenger cars sold from January to December, this French automobile market finally signs a decline of 3.2% over the full year despite a slight increase of 1.5% over the last month of December 2024.
In detail, Stellantis sold more new cars than the Renault group in 2024 with 452,900 vehicles compared to 425,116 for its great rival. But while the Renault group limits its fall to -2.7%, Stellantis shows -7% compared to the year 2023. In detail Peugeot loses 3.6% but the group suffers especially from the fall of Citroën which falls by 11.4%, Fiat which lost 18.8% and DS which fell by 22.9%.
The Renault brand fell by 0.2% and Dacia fell by 7.3%, an astonishing figure when we know the dynamics of the brand in Europe for several years. Note once again the solid progression of Toyota at +18.6%.
In terms of engine types, non-hybrid gasoline represents 29.5% of new vehicles sold in the country in 2024. “Full hybrid” covers 19.5% of sales and beats electric with its 16.9%. but also mild hybridization with 14.8% market share and rechargeable hybridization with 8.5%.
-Electricity is no longer progressing
Concerning electric cars, precisely, we note that their market share does not change compared to that of the year 2023 (they fell by 2.2% in volume due to the general drop in sales). Unsurprisingly, there was no “boost” effect over the last month of December due to the reduction in the ecological bonus (despite certain commercial operations on the part of manufacturers). The Tesla Model Y comes in first place in electric car sales ahead of the Peugeot E-208 and the Renault Mégane E-Tech. The Renault 5 E-Tech is already 7th in the top 10 “zero emission” models but curiously, the Citroën ë-C3 is not there.
Final victory for the Renault Clio
As the November figures suggest, it is ultimately the Renault Clio which emerges as the best-selling new car in France in 2024. It beats the Peugeot 208 to the post, although it is better off, and the Dacia Sandero finishes third. Note that more Renault 5 E-Tech Electrics have been sold than new Citroën C3s, all engine types combined, which suggests that the latter has not yet been able to accelerate its deliveries.
For the Renault Clio, this is the second victory in a row after that of 2023 when it managed to take its revenge on the Peugeot 208. Remember that in Europe, it should finish on the final podium (again ahead of the Peugeot 208).
