The Renault Clio 6 only holds 2.8% of its home market in May.

The French new car market edges up 3.7% year-on-year in May to sign a second YoY growth in the past 3 months. However keep in mind May 2025 was off -12.3% on the year prior The YTD tally however remains in negative – just – at -0.6% to 668,379. Petrol sales are off -37.4% to 18,926 and 14.7% share vs. 24.4% a year ago, diesel implodes -52.5% to just 3,291 and 2.6% share vs. 5.6% in May 2025, HEVs edge up 0.4% to 54,774 and 42.6% share vs. 44% last year and PHEVs are down -6.5% to 7,648 and 6% share vs. 6.6% a year ago. Finally BEVs skyrocket +92.7% to 37,412 and 29.1% share vs. 15.7% in May 2025. Year-to-date, BEV sales are up 55.4% to 185,714 and 27.8% share vs. 17.8% over the first five months of 2025. 

The Tesla Model Y is up to #3 in France in May.

The Top 3 manufacturers are all down. Renault (-10.9%) falls to its lowest market share since last August at 15.4% while Peugeot (-14.7%) is in even worse shape and drops to 12.4%. Dacia (-2.9%) is also weak while Volkswagen (+0.1%) is stable and overtakes Citroen (-7.6%) to reach the 4th place overall. Volkswagen is now #5 year-to-date above Toyota (+5.7%), despite the latter signing a relatively solid month. BMW (+39.5%) is up two ranks on April to #7 with 4.5% share, its best performance this year so far. Surreal score for Tesla, up 655.3% year-on-year to #8 overall with 4.2% share vs. 1.3% last month. Skoda (+13.5%) is also robust, distancing Audi (+7.4%) and Mercedes (+18.1%). BYD is estimated to climb 166.5% to a record 14th position while Fiat (+71%) recovers at #15.

The new gen iX3 helps BMW to its best performance of the year.

Over in the models charts, the Peugeot 208 (-0.6%) repeats at #1 with 4.7% share vs. 4.5% so far this year. The Dacia Sandero (+4.5%) is only 24 sales lower in 2nd place. Meanwhile the Tesla Model Y (+835.7%) shoots up 19 spots on April to land in third place overall with 3% share, an outstanding result given we are not in an end of quarter month. At #4, the Renault Clio VI disappoints again with just 2.8% share, down from 3.7% in April and 4% in March. Are we witnessing a shock failure for the new generation of Renault’s star model? When adding the 5th generation (-84.3% to #19), the Clio nameplate only holds 4% share, in third place well below the 208 and Sandero. The Renault 5 (+100.6%) surges YoY but is down one rank on last month to #7, just as the new Renault Twingo IV is up to #36, the Renault 4 (+78.4%) down to #65 and the BMW iX3 (+18100%) up to #67.

Previous month: France April 2026: Stable market (-0.3%), BEVs up 41.8% to 26.2% share

One year ago: France May 2025: Volumes down -12.3%, BEV private sales down -58%

Full May 2026 Top 20 brands and Top 80 models below.

France May 2026 – brands:

PosBrandMay-26%/25Apr2026%/25PosFY251Renault   19,82315.4%– 10.9%1118,32617.7%– 1.5%112Peugeot  15,93312.4%– 14.7%290,86013.6%– 10.9%223Dacia  11,5629.0%– 2.9%352,7057.9%– 12.4%434Volkswagen8,8256.9%+ 0.1%543,7596.5%– 3.4%555Citroen  8,4586.6%– 7.6%453,4158.0%+ 6.4%346Toyota7,6536.0%+ 5.7%643,3586.5%– 9.7%667BMW  5,8064.5%+ 39.5%923,4373.5%+ 0.2%778Tesla5,4464.2%+ 655.3%2121,2203.2%+ 156.4%8189Skoda  4,5633.6%+ 13.5%720,8603.1%+ 7.0%9810Audi  3,8113.0%+ 7.4%1019,0162.8%+ 5.8%10911Mercedes  3,7252.9%+ 18.1%815,9832.4%+ 6.5%111112Opel  2,5602.0%– 2.8%1215,5532.3%+ 13.8%121513Hyundai2,5112.0%– 18.7%1114,6812.2%– 16.0%131014BYD (est)2,5001.9%+ 166.5%168,4201.3%+ 81.9%202415Fiat  2,4961.9%+ 71.0%1812,5841.9%+ 58.9%152016MG (est)2,4631.9%– 4.4%1411,5101.7%+ 7.4%171417Mini2,1241.7%+ 45.3%209,8721.5%+ 6.7%191718Nissan  2,0491.6%+ 0.6%1510,3581.5%– 11.3%181619Kia  2,0481.6%– 15.3%1312,5741.9%– 6.0%161320Ford  1,9991.6%– 36.0%1712,8231.9%– 18.8%1412

France May 2026 – models:

PosModelMay-26%/25Apr2026%/25PosFY251Peugeot 2086,0244.7%– 0.6%129,8584.5%– 9.3%122Dacia Sandero6,0004.7%+ 4.5%224,9863.7%– 12.1%233Tesla Model Y3,8743.0%+ 835.7%2216,0002.4%+ 183.1%8154Renault Clio VI3,6462.8%new321,0763.2%new51415Citroen C33,5152.7%– 14.0%423,3923.5%– 12.8%346Peugeot 20083,2592.5%– 33.3%521,4703.2%– 14.6%457Renault 52,9472.3%+ 100.6%616,4492.5%+ 27.3%678Peugeot 30082,8122.2%– 12.9%715,4312.3%– 16.7%969Dacia Duster III2,6292.0%– 19.8%1013,0692.0%– 29.6%12910Renault Captur2,3711.8%– 16.1%814,5802.2%– 16.0%10811Toyota Yaris Cross2,3571.8%+ 12.7%912,9381.9%– 13.8%131112Citroen C3 Aircross II2,3481.8%+ 19.0%1413,2212.0%+ 253.2%111813VW Polo2,1921.7%+ 7.5%238,5181.3%– 14.1%191414Renault Symbioz2,1471.7%– 24.8%1212,4421.9%– 16.3%151215Toyota Yaris1,9821.5%– 18.2%1112,2181.8%– 12.0%161016Peugeot 3081,9721.5%– 19.1%1312,6461.9%– 7.9%141317Renault Scenic V1,6241.3%+ 56.8%1510,6341.6%+ 54.2%172218Tesla Model 31,5611.2%+ 423.8%955,1530.8%+ 101.6%317319Renault Clio V1,5311.2%– 84.3%1616,1612.4%– 62.1%7120BMW X11,4601.1%+ 52.7%634,7570.7%– 1.6%354021VW T-Roc II1,4201.1%new177,3851.1%new2215922Citroen C5 Aircross II1,4111.1%new199,2521.4%new189923Dacia Bigster1,3701.1%+ 12.9%207,2661.1%+ 110.6%242124Peugeot 5008 III1,3231.0%– 8.9%247,8091.2%+ 2.6%201725Renault Megane E-Tech1,2891.0%+ 153.2%434,8420.7%+ 42.6%345026Opel Corsa1,2481.0%– 13.9%216,9841.0%– 9.4%252627Renault Austral1,2291.0%– 9.6%267,3291.1%– 14.5%231628Nissan Qashqai1,1550.9%+ 39.0%186,0350.9%+ 15.7%263029Toyota C-HR II1,1460.9%+ 31.4%307,4651.1%+ 15.3%212930Skoda Elroq1,1260.9%+ 64.9%315,1290.8%+ 194.3%325831Dacia Jogger1,1050.9%– 15.6%294,6190.7%– 30.8%362832Toyota Aygo X1,0590.8%+ 31.9%255,8890.9%+ 18.3%273933VW ID.41,0260.8%+ 178.8%285,5420.8%+ 165.9%307234BYD Atto 21,0180.8%+ 4527.3%422,3480.4%+ 769.6%7820035Hyundai Kona1,0150.8%+ 16.1%275,6400.8%+ 5.2%293736Renault Twingo IV1,0040.8%new822,6750.4%new7334437BMW Série 19850.8%+ 42.3%474,0830.6%– 24.0%463338Mini Hatch9750.8%+ 16.3%524,8990.7%+ 1.5%333539VW ID.39120.7%+ 96.6%494,1580.6%+ 20.1%445540Fiat 6009020.7%+ 8.9%863,8960.6%– 3.0%505941Skoda Fabia8880.7%+ 0.9%394,2710.6%– 10.1%414142Ford Puma8830.7%– 37.5%405,7140.9%– 13.6%281943BMW iX18700.7%+ 81.6%533,9590.6%+ 60.1%484744Mini Countryman8450.7%+ 130.2%673,6650.5%+ 46.8%516145Hyundai Tucson8310.6%– 23.1%344,2610.6%– 22.7%422346VW Golf8300.6%– 17.7%414,3130.6%– 15.9%403247MG 38120.6%– 23.3%373,5280.5%– 4.5%524248MG ZS7820.6%– 23.5%454,0910.6%– 12.5%453449VW Tiguan III7520.6%– 37.6%504,2260.6%– 35.6%432450Audi A37490.6%– 7.8%333,9540.6%+ 20.1%494551Audi Q47350.6%+ 223.8%463,4710.5%+ 114.4%546852VW T-Cross7210.6%– 30.2%354,0790.6%– 21.3%473153Seat Ibiza7080.6%+ 8.1%562,8910.4%– 16.8%655754Citroen C46760.5%– 39.0%324,6170.7%– 48.7%372555Renault Espace6700.5%– 23.0%693,3600.5%– 14.3%555156Mercedes CLA6670.5%+ 285.5%383,2560.5%+ 209.5%5811257Kia EV46650.5%new512,6810.4%new7220258Audi Q36630.5%+ 215.7%573,3280.5%+ 93.9%578059Skoda Octavia 6480.5%– 13.5%603,1770.5%– 11.8%594860Ford Kuga5920.5%– 42.9%663,0410.5%– 37.8%613861Fiat Grande Panda5910.5%n/a683,3320.5%n/a568362Jeep Avenger5850.5%+ 26.1%932,6470.4%– 6.4%756363Renault Rafale5850.5%– 7.4%772,7800.4%– 30.0%685464Xpeng G65830.5%+ 195.9%742,0120.3%+ 157.3%8512065Renault 45710.4%+ 78.4%484,5250.7%+ 903.3%386466Suzuki Swift5610.4%– 35.4%364,3210.6%– 24.8%393667BMW iX35460.4%+ 18100.0%1041,5390.2%+ 697.4%9225268Fiat 5005400.4%+ 100.0%443,5220.5%+ 49.9%538269Audi A15220.4%– 20.1%752,8270.4%– 26.9%665270Skoda Kamiq5200.4%– 18.2%712,8150.4%– 13.4%675671Skoda Enyaq5170.4%+ 129.8%581,9710.3%– 4.9%869072Toyota Corolla5060.4%+ 10.5%872,6970.4%– 33.8%715373Mercedes Classe A5030.4%– 22.7%552,3210.3%– 26.1%814974Nissan Juke4950.4%– 46.0%732,6580.4%– 38.2%744475Cupra Formentor4770.4%– 29.5%722,3670.4%– 28.4%776076Dacia Spring4580.4%+ 24.8%702,7650.4%– 7.8%696277Mercedes GLA4580.4%– 45.1%612,8940.4%– 20.6%644378Opel Mokka4500.4%+ 2.3%813,0820.5%+ 2.9%606679Kia Sportage4390.3%– 25.5%542,9120.4%– 11.3%634680Cupra Born4330.3%– 1.4%642,3260.3%+ 14.0%8081

Source: PFA, AAA Data