The new generation Renault Clio has cracked its home Top 10.

After losing -5.5% to its lowest annual level in 50 years in 2025, the French new car market continues on its downward trajectory and starts 2026 with a -6.6% contraction to just 107,157 sales. Petrol sales implode -48.9% to 15,326 and 14.3% share vs. 26.1% a year ago while diesel is down -49.1% to 2,521 and 2.4% share vs. 4.3%. Hybrids for their part limit their fall to -0.5% to 51.171 units and 47.8% share vs. 44.9% in 2025, note this includes mild hybrids. PHEVs are also stable at -0.6% to 4,821 and 4.5% share vs. 4.2% last year. Finally BEVs surge 52.1% to 30.308 and 28.3% share vs. 17.4% a year ago. This is believed to be the highest BEV share in French history and was helped by the social leasing scrappage scheme dedicated to BEVs.

Renault surges 20.7% to 21.402 sales and 20% share vs. 17.5% over 2025. In contrast, Peugeot (-8.2%) falls faster than the market but still holds 16.5% share which is superior to its FY2025 level of 13.5%. Citroen (+2.8%) defies the negative context and climbs back up to #3 overall for the first time in almost two years: since February 2024. Toyota (-12.7%) suffers year-on-year but ranks #4, its highest since last August. Volkswagen (-7%) drops two spots on last month to #5 but the (bad) surprise of the month is Dacia freefalling -33.9% to #6, the low cost brand’s worst position since April 2021. Skoda (+8%) for its part is up to a record 7th place, also reached last October. Opel (+7.8%) is also in great shape at #8 vs. #19 last month and #15 over the Full Year 2025. Notice also Fiat (+21.6%) starting to bounce back up.

The models charts is impacted by the transition between two generations of Renault Clio. The Peugeot 208 (+7.6%) takes the lead with 6% share vs. 3.2% last month and is followed by the Renault Clio (-16.1%) down to 4.1% of the market. Below is the Citroen C3 IV (-30.4%) falling sharply against a year-ago pole position and the Peugeot 2008 (-15%) also in difficult but reaching its highest ranking since last October. The Renault 5 (+40.5%) continues on its incredible success and equals the record 3.7% share it hit last month, however dropping three ranks to #5. The event of the month is the 7th place of the Renault Clio VI with 2.7% of the market, a big number being demo sales as the model has just launched to the public this month. As for other recent launches, the Citroen C3 Aircross II is down three spots on December to #13, the Citroen C5 Aircross II up 32 to #19, the Dacia Bigster down two to #22, the Renault 4 repeating at #29, and the VW T-Roc II up 34 to #31.

Previous post: France Full Year 2025: Weakest market in 50 years, Renault Clio #1, Renault 5 #2 in December

One year ago: France January 2025: Citroen C3 triumphs

Full January 2026 Top 20 brands and Top 100 models below.

France January 2026 – brands:

PosBrandJan-26%/25Dec1Renault   21,40220.0%+ 20.7%12Peugeot  17,70716.5%– 8.2%23Citroen  9,4938.9%+ 2.8%44Toyota9,1648.6%– 12.7%65Volkswagen6,9216.5%– 7.0%36Dacia  6,5966.2%– 33.9%57Skoda  3,0752.9%+ 8.0%128Opel  3,0162.8%+ 7.8%199Audi  2,6922.5%– 16.6%1110BMW  2,6802.5%– 35.5%711Hyundai2,3922.2%– 30.2%1012Ford  2,1182.0%– 27.7%1313Fiat  2,0982.0%+ 21.6%2214Kia  1,8281.7%– 26.8%1515Suzuki1,5211.4%– 10.4%2116Mini1,5111.4%+ 11.8%1617Mercedes  1,5051.4%+ 24.5%918Nissan  1,3381.2%– 14.2%1419Cupra1,1691.1%+ 10.9%2020MG (est)1,1551.1%– 25.0%8

France January 2026 – models:

PosModelJan-26%/25Dec1Peugeot 2086,4376.0%+ 7.6%42Renault Clio V4,4294.1%– 16.1%13Citroen C3 IV4,2704.0%– 30.4%34Peugeot 20084,0153.7%– 15.0%65Renault 53,9523.7%+ 40.5%26Peugeot 3008 III2,8762.7%– 29.8%147Renault Clio VI2,8492.7%new328Dacia Sandero2,8232.6%– 42.6%59Renault Captur2,6842.5%+ 18.5%810Toyota Yaris2,6842.5%+ 10.0%711Peugeot 3082,5132.3%– 2.9%1612Toyota Yaris Cross2,4712.3%– 34.3%913Citroen C3 Aircross II2,3042.2%+ 12026.3%1014Toyota C-HR II2,0381.9%+ 65.3%4015Renault Scenic V1,9451.8%+ 65.3%2816Dacia Duster III1,7381.6%– 43.5%1717Renault Symbioz1,5651.5%– 14.3%2318VW Polo1,5461.4%– 28.0%1519Citroen C5 Aircross II1,4471.4%new5120Ford Puma1,2451.2%+ 2.1%2121Peugeot 5008 III1,2411.2%+ 7.3%4222Dacia Bigster1,1771.1%new2023Opel Corsa1,1531.1%– 43.9%5424Renault Austral1,0741.0%– 12.2%3425Citroen C41,0621.0%– 26.3%8226Renault Megane E-Tech1,0070.9%+ 48.3%5527Toyota Aygo X9710.9%– 14.0%6028Suzuki Swift9410.9%– 21.5%4129Renault 49250.9%new2930VW ID.48870.8%+ 142.3%5631VW T-Roc II8670.8%new6532Skoda Elroq8560.8%+ 28433.3%4633Opel Mokka8340.8%+ 112.8%8934VW Golf8180.8%– 8.0%2735Hyundai Kona8030.7%– 23.8%3636Nissan Qashqai7390.7%+ 9.6%1337VW Tiguan III7050.7%– 40.8%2438Opel Frontera6890.6%new10739Toyota Corolla6700.6%– 45.4%8440Mini Hatch6590.6%– 5.7%3541VW ID.36490.6%+ 63.1%5942Mini Countryman6300.6%+ 88.6%5743Tesla Model Y6130.6%– 4.2%3944Fiat 6006090.6%– 45.2%10445BMW iX16080.6%+ 72.2%4546Hyundai Tucson5780.5%– 41.0%1247Fiat Grande Panda5760.5%new7648Skoda Fabia5620.5%– 14.6%5349Audi A15550.5%– 39.9%7950Audi Q35430.5%+ 67.6%4451Skoda Octavia 5390.5%– 25.6%5852Fiat 5005360.5%+ 24.7%7353Hyundai Inster5270.5%+ 698.5%7754Jeep Avenger5260.5%– 11.0%8055Audi A35130.5%+ 9.9%5256VW T-Cross4900.5%– 27.7%3857Cupra Born4870.5%+ 319.8%7858Dacia Jogger4670.4%– 53.0%6359BMW X14420.4%– 44.1%2260Seat Ibiza4400.4%– 33.1%6861Alfa Romeo Junior4380.4%– 10.2%10362MG ZS4190.4%– 47.2%1863Kia EV44100.4%new12864Ford Kuga3960.4%– 59.0%3365Dacia Spring3850.4%– 59.7%3766Skoda Kamiq3830.4%– 13.7%6667Nissan Juke3760.4%– 39.0%4868Mercedes CLA3580.3%+ 289.1%9769MG 33450.3%– 29.4%1170Peugeot 4083260.3%– 16.6%13671BMW Série 13250.3%– 74.9%2572Kia Sportage3170.3%– 42.2%3173DS 33090.3%– 31.8%14874Kia Niro3080.3%– 29.5%11075VW T-Roc I3070.3%– 63.3%5076Xpeng G63070.3%+ 184.3%9977Renault Espace2990.3%– 32.5%7278Suzuki Vitara2890.3%– 18.4%8579Ford Explorer2820.3%+ 118.6%10180MG EHS2750.3%+ 157.0%1981Renault Rafale2670.2%– 40.5%6782Cupra Formentor2660.2%– 40.6%7483BMW iX22620.2%+ 53.2%9484Mercedes GLA2590.2%+ 19.9%3085Audi Q42520.2%– 52.4%8886DS 42480.2%+ 11.2%20087Seat Leon2420.2%+ 4.8%12688Skoda Enyaq2350.2%– 20.6%9389Volvo EX302330.2%+ 14.2%10990Kia Picanto2320.2%– 62.3%10291Alpine A2902310.2%+ 0.4%11892Skoda Kodiaq2270.2%– 23.3%9093Opel Grandland2270.2%+ 27.5%14194Mini Aceman2220.2%+ 17.5%9195BMW i42210.2%+ 29.2%10096Lexus LBX2190.2%– 61.1%13997VW Taigo2130.2%– 36.0%96

Source: PFA, AAA Data