The Citroen C3 is the most popular vehicle in France in February.

It’s another horrendous month for new car registrations in France, with February off -14.7% year-on-year to just 120,764 units. The year-to-date tally is now off -11.1% to 227,921. Keep in mind 2025 was the weakest year since 1975, so we are entering even worse territory now. Petrol sales sink -48.1% to 18,206 and 15.1% share vs. 24.8% share a year ago and diesel crashes -53.8% to 3,098 and 2.6% share vs. 4.7^ in February 2025. HEVs drop -16.2% to 52,069 and 43.1% share vs. 43.9% last year, PHEVs edge up 3.2% to 6,655 and 5.5% share vs. 4.6% a year ago. Finally BEVs surge 27.8% to 32,371 and 26.8% share vs. 17.9% in February 2025. Year-to-date, petrol drops -48.5% to 33,532 and 14.7% share vs. 25.4% over the same period in 2025, diesel is off -51.8% to 5,619 and 2.5% share vs. 4.6%, HEVs edge down -4.9% to 108,061 and 47.4% share vs. 44.3%, PHEVs step up 1.5% to 11,476 and 5% share vs. 4.4% and BEVs surge 38.5% to 62,679 and 27.5% share vs. 17.7% over the first 2 months of 2025. 

Best result since last September for the Tesla Model Y.

Renault (-16.5%) and Peugeot (-20.7%) both disappoint and fall faster than the market to 16.9% and 14.7% share respectively. For once Citroen (+0.9%) braves the negative context and stays in third place with 9.7% share. Even though it rallies back up two spots on January, Dacia (-36.3%) remains in hell year-on-year with just 6.8% share vs. 9.1% a year ago in February 2025. This situation is uncharacteristic for the low cost brand and is starting to be a little worrying. Volkswagen (-21%) stays at #5 while Toyota (-19%) is down two ranks to #6. BMW (-27.2%) is up three spots on January to #7 but struggles year-on-year, while Skoda (+5.9%) is strong once again at #8. The winners of the month are Tesla (+55.1%) up 16 ranks on last month to #9 with 3.1% share, the carmaker’s best result since last September, Opel (+51.1%) and Fiat (+60.6%). Further down, MG is estimated to gain 8.3% at #17 and BYD should grow by 82.7% at #22. 

The new generation Citroen C5 Aircross is up to a record #16.

We have a surprise in the models charts: the Citroen C3 (-25.9%) snaps the pole position despite freefalling year-on-year, with 24% of its February volume coming from the e-C3 BEV. This is the third time the C3 nameplate is #1 in France after October 2019 and January 2025. Note that like in 2019, the C3 benefits from the Clio generation changeover (the Clio nameplate would be #1 this month). The C3  outsells the Peugeot 208 (-29.5%) in even worse shape while the Peugeot 2008 (-20.8%) is up to #3, its best ranking since July 2022. Now discontinued, the Renault Clio V logically drops -55.9% to #4, followed by a crashing Dacia Sandero (-41.3%). In contrast the Tesla Model Y (+74.6%) surges ahead to #7 and 2.5% share and back to the BEV pole position above the Renault 5 (-13%) at #9. Up to #7 in January, the Renault Clio VI falls back to #11 as the “true” sales begin after a public launch in January when demo sales accounted for the large majority of its volume. The new Citroen C5 Aircross II is up to a record #16 whereas the Renault 4 falls 15 ranks to #44.

Previous month: France January 2026: BEV sales up 52.1%, Renault Clio VI in Top 10

One year ago: France February 2025: Renault (+20.4%) reclaims control in stable market

Full February 2026 Top 25 brands and Top 75 models below.

France February 2026 – brands:

PosBrandFeb-26%/25Jan2026%/25PosFY251Renault   20,41716.9%– 16.5%141,81918.3%– 0.8%112Peugeot  17,74614.7%– 20.7%235,45315.6%– 14.9%223Citroen  11,6809.7%+ 0.9%321,1739.3%+ 1.7%344Dacia  8,1586.8%– 36.3%614,7546.5%– 35.3%635Volkswagen8,0636.7%– 21.0%514,9846.6%– 15.1%556Toyota7,8076.5%– 19.0%416,9717.4%– 15.7%467BMW  3,9663.3%– 27.2%106,6462.9%– 30.8%878Skoda  3,8043.1%+ 5.9%76,8793.0%+ 6.8%789Tesla3,7153.1%+ 55.1%254,3761.9%+ 23.8%141810Hyundai3,3102.7%– 8.6%115,7022.5%– 19.1%111011Opel  3,2822.7%+ 51.1%86,2982.8%+ 26.7%91512Audi  3,1332.6%– 10.6%95,8252.6%– 13.5%10913Fiat  2,5662.1%+ 60.6%134,6642.0%+ 40.3%122014Ford  2,4632.0%– 21.4%124,5812.0%– 24.5%131215Kia  2,3822.0%– 9.0%144,2101.8%– 17.7%151316Mercedes  2,3351.9%– 7.6%173,8401.7%+ 2.8%161117MG (est)2,1101.7%+ 8.3%203,2391.4%– 7.1%181418Mini1,8871.6%– 16.9%163,3981.5%– 6.2%171719Nissan  1,6171.3%– 48.4%182,9551.3%– 37.0%191620Cupra1,3371.1%– 27.6%192,5061.1%– 13.6%211921Suzuki1,2461.0%– 31.2%152,7671.2%– 21.2%202122BYD (est)1,1000.9%+ 82.7%221,9710.9%+ 103.6%222423DS9620.8%– 22.3%211,8380.8%– 18.3%232324Jeep8250.7%– 5.1%241,5840.7%– 5.1%252625Seat  8190.7%– 37.0%231,6560.7%– 31.6%2422

France February 2026 – models:

PosModelFeb-26%/25Jan1Citroen C35,6394.7%– 25.9%32Peugeot 2084,8284.0%– 29.5%13Peugeot 20084,1573.4%– 20.8%44Renault Clio V3,8523.2%– 55.9%25Dacia Sandero3,7663.1%– 41.3%86Peugeot 30083,1952.6%– 28.3%67Tesla Model Y3,0342.5%+ 74.6%438Peugeot 3082,8012.3%– 4.5%119Renault 52,6392.2%– 13.0%510Renault Captur2,5852.1%– 38.7%911Renault Clio VI2,4732.0%new712Renault Symbioz2,4372.0%– 3.6%1713Dacia Duster III2,4262.0%– 43.4%1614Toyota Yaris Cross2,2741.9%– 23.6%1215Toyota Yaris2,1541.8%– 18.6%1016Citroen C5 Aircross II2,1371.8%new1917Renault Scenic V2,1271.8%+ 114.0%1518Peugeot 5008 III2,0771.7%+ 11.7%2119Toyota C-HR II1,6161.3%+ 27.0%1420VW Polo1,5491.3%– 18.6%1821Citroen C3 Aircross II1,4571.2%+ 553.4%1322Hyundai Kona1,4041.2%+ 24.2%3523Opel Corsa1,3961.2%– 5.7%2424VW T-Roc II1,3471.1%new3125Renault Austral1,2951.1%– 27.2%2526Dacia Bigster1,2371.0%new2227Ford Puma1,1561.0%– 20.1%2028VW ID.41,0030.8%+ 129.0%3029Citroen C49880.8%– 34.0%2330Fiat 6009800.8%+ 33.0%4231Skoda Elroq9590.8%+ 322.5%3232Mini Hatch9460.8%– 20.2%4533Renault Megane E-Tech8730.7%+ 50.3%2634VW Tiguan III8670.7%– 40.9%3735Nissan Qashqai8560.7%– 39.2%3636Toyota Aygo X8450.7%– 8.5%2737MG ZS8340.7%– 24.2%6338Hyundai Tucson8290.7%– 15.9%4639VW Golf8120.7%– 33.6%3440VW ID.37980.7%– 2.9%4041BMW Série 17560.6%– 43.6%7542VW T-Cross7470.6%– 32.7%5643BMW X17420.6%– 31.4%5944Renault 47170.6%+ 2657.7%2945BMW iX17110.6%+ 53.2%4446Mini Countryman7090.6%– 3.5%4147Skoda Fabia6940.6%– 4.0%4948Opel Mokka6680.6%+ 58.3%3349Audi Q36670.6%+ 63.1%5250Tesla Model 36640.5%+ 3.3%18751Fiat 5006580.5%– 7.3%5152Audi A36560.5%+ 46.4%5053Opel Frontera6500.5%+ 2854.5%3854Jeep Avenger6350.5%+ 20.0%5555Skoda Octavia 6340.5%– 7.8%5356Ford Kuga6290.5%– 13.0%6657MG 36190.5%+ 24.8%7258Skoda Kamiq6100.5%+ 6.3%6859Kia Sportage5620.5%– 21.2%7660Suzuki Swift5590.5%– 50.5%2861Mercedes GLA5570.5%– 26.6%8762Hyundai Inster5490.5%+ 254.2%5463Dacia Jogger5370.4%– 64.2%5864Toyota Corolla5330.4%– 40.1%3965Fiat Grande Panda5180.4%new4766Renault Rafale5140.4%– 31.6%8467MG EHS4880.4%+ 168.1%8368Nissan Juke4770.4%– 49.0%6969Cupra Formentor4660.4%– 14.2%8570Seat Ibiza4560.4%– 22.7%6071Mercedes CLA4560.4%+ 200.0%7072Kia Niro4490.4%+ 6.1%7873Renault Espace4370.4%– 34.3%8174Alfa Romeo Junior4030.3%+ 3.9%6175Suzuki Vitara3920.3%– 17.1%65

Source: PFA