The Renault Symbioz outsells the Captur for the first time.

Another disappointing month for French new car sales, down -5.6% year-on-year in April to 138,694 and leading to a year-to-date tally off -7.3% to 548,779. The only channels showing growth are tactical: short term rentals and self registrations whereas private and fleet sales collapse. More concerning, private leases sink by over 20% this month. SUVs are dominant once again with over 52% share. Petrol sales are down -38.7% to just 28,932, diesel is off -41.1% to and LPG down -25.7% to 4,869. In contrast, HEV are up 37.7% to 63,060 and BEVs edge up 2.4% to 25,542 and 18.4% share vs. 17% in April 2024 but PHEVs drop -11.7% to 9,593. Year-to-date, petrol is down -35.2% to 126,883, diesel is down -44.5% to 24,827, HEVs soar 44.9% to 247,327, BEVs dip -4.8% to 100,061 and 18.2% share vs. 17.8% over the same period in 2024 and PHEVs sink -41% to 29.185.

Renault (+4.3%) showcases solid growth to 19% share, almost two percentage points above its April 2024 result (17.2%). Peugeot (-10.7%) on the other hand struggles at just 12.9% share. Dacia (-4.8%) maintains itself at 8.8% of the market while Toyota (-11.2%) gains two spots on March to #4, overtaking Citroen (+6.2%), in positive for the first time this year, and Volkswagen (-15.4%). BMW (-12.8% also suffers whereas Mercedes (+24.8%) and Skoda (+12.1%) are both in great shape. Mini shoots up 120.2% and MG is estimated to gain 126.6%.

In the models charts, the Renault Clio (+16.6%) sails into the distance with 6.8% share, the nameplate’s highest in exactly 5 years: since pandemic-stricken April 2020. The Peugeot 208 (-31%) and Dacia Sandero (-35.9%) are both in freefall below, while the Citroen C3 IV is back up two ranks on last month to #4. The Peugeot 2008 (-17.4%) is also in trouble at #5, followed by the Dacia Duster III. Once again it’s a very strong month for the new Renault Symbioz, up a further one spot on March to a record 7th place. Most notably the Symbioz outsells its little brother the Captur (-23.7%) for the first time. The Toyota Yaris (+19.9%) and Yaris Cross (+7.7%) also shine just as the Peugeot 3008 III celebrates one year in market but drops to #10 vs. #6 year-to-date. The Renault 5 slips outside the Top 10 for the first time since last October at #13. Notice also the Mini Hatch IV up to #15 and the Dacia Bigster up to #32. The BYD Seal U breaks into the Top 50 at #48.

Previous month: France March 2025: Renault Symbioz crack Top 10, Tesla off -36.8%

One year ago: France April 2024: Market up 10.9%, Toyota breaks monthly volume record

Full April 2025 Top 20 brands and Top 50 models below.

France April 2025 – brands:

PosBrandApr-25%/24Mar2025%/24PosFY241Renault   26,31819.0%+ 4.3%197,89117.8%+ 8.8%112Peugeot  17,89312.9%– 10.7%283,25215.2%– 5.5%223Dacia  12,1538.8%– 4.8%348,2298.8%– 7.6%334Toyota10,9257.9%– 11.2%640,7917.4%– 8.0%545Citroen  9,4326.8%+ 6.2%441,0477.5%– 7.0%466Volkswagen8,6626.2%– 15.4%536,4616.6%+ 4.3%657BMW  4,7533.4%– 12.8%719,2293.5%– 15.1%778Mercedes  4,5053.2%+ 24.8%1011,8542.2%– 27.0%1289Skoda  4,3343.1%+ 12.1%815,4852.8%+ 20.6%81110Hyundai4,1073.0%– 6.5%1314,3822.6%– 4.4%101011Audi  3,3732.4%– 16.2%914,4242.6%– 2.0%9912Kia  3,2942.4%– 13.2%1610,9632.0%– 29.8%141213Ford  3,2112.3%– 28.8%1112,6692.3%– 22.7%111314Opel  2,7622.0%– 29.4%1211,0292.0%– 35.2%131515Nissan  2,4671.8%– 16.4%179,6441.8%– 6.9%151716Mini2,2531.6%+ 120.2%217,7941.4%+ 17.2%172217Cupra2,2301.6%+ 51.0%207,1571.3%+ 44.8%202418Suzuki1,8391.3%– 32.0%197,4311.4%– 14.4%191919MG (est)1,7791.3%+ 126.6%158,0941.5%+ 44.7%161820Seat  1,3861.0%– 34.2%225,2381.0%– 27.6%2220

France April 2025 – models:

PosModelApr-25%/24Mar2025%/24PosFY241Renault Clio9,3976.8%+ 16.6%132,9346.0%+ 6.1%112Peugeot 2085,6764.1%– 31.0%226,8464.9%– 27.2%223Dacia Sandero5,1093.7%– 35.9%322,6994.1%– 22.2%434Citroen C3 IV incl. e-C34,3573.1%+ 3385.6%622,7324.1%+ 16991.7%3215Peugeot 20084,3123.1%– 17.4%420,2643.7%+ 11.0%546Dacia Duster III4,1753.0%#######715,2782.8%+ 19487.2%7137Renault Symbioz4,0832.9%new812,0092.2%new10688Toyota Yaris3,6462.6%+ 19.9%1411,4642.1%– 3.5%1189Renault Captur3,3322.4%– 23.7%514,5402.6%– 9.3%8510Peugeot 3008 III3,2132.3%+ 1705.1%915,2952.8%+ 1467.1%61411Toyota Yaris Cross3,0322.2%+ 7.7%1312,9182.4%+ 18.4%9912Peugeot 3082,4231.7%– 28.0%1111,2852.1%– 23.9%13713Renault 52,2671.6%new1011,4542.1%new125114Renault Austral1,9621.4%– 26.0%167,2101.3%– 27.2%151115Mini Hatch IV1,8991.4%new434,7160.9%new287216Citroen C5 Aircross1,7251.2%+ 60.2%195,7971.1%+ 5.6%203217Toyota C-HR II1,6751.2%n/a245,6001.0%n/a212818VW Polo1,6231.2%+ 7.4%187,8781.4%+ 49.1%141219Peugeot 5008 III1,5961.2%+ 4594.1%226,1611.1%+ 18020.6%189920Renault Scenic V1,4631.1%new175,8591.1%new195421VW Tiguan III1,4421.0%new295,3571.0%new233822Hyundai Tucson1,4191.0%– 7.7%374,4290.8%– 16.3%312623Citroen C41,3351.0%– 13.5%126,9611.3%– 6.1%162324Ford Puma1,2950.9%– 35.6%305,2000.9%– 31.6%251825Hyundai Kona1,2390.9%– 14.3%354,4690.8%+ 10.7%303726Dacia Jogger1,2300.9%– 40.0%205,3661.0%– 41.1%221527Suzuki Swift1,2000.9%+ 41.2%274,8800.9%+ 26.1%274328Toyota Aygo X1,1830.9%– 29.4%424,1770.8%– 21.2%333329Renault Espace1,1510.8%+ 3.8%533,0520.6%– 16.1%444230VW T-Roc1,1360.8%– 36.6%254,9490.9%– 12.5%262431Nissan Qashqai1,1200.8%– 26.5%314,3840.8%– 11.3%323432Dacia Bigster1,1150.8%new382,2360.4%new64 –33Opel Corsa1,0990.8%– 40.1%216,2591.1%– 25.5%171634VW Golf1,0820.8%– 27.6%444,1200.8%– 23.9%352935Mercedes GLA1,0780.8%+ 59.7%572,8110.5%– 20.1%514836Renault Rafale1,0720.8%+ 1191.6%343,3370.6%+ 2591.1%428237BMW X11,0570.8%– 24.4%413,8760.7%– 30.5%363138Skoda Fabia1,0550.8%+ 17.6%233,8690.7%+ 39.0%374939Ford Kuga1,0340.7%+ 9.0%323,8550.7%+ 3.1%384140Nissan Juke9720.7%+ 3.0%493,3840.6%– 11.9%414641VW T-Cross9700.7%– 30.2%264,1480.8%– 24.5%343542Mercedes Classe A9490.7%+ 149.7%452,4900.5%+ 1.9%587043BMW Série 19270.7%– 3.8%334,6800.9%+ 31.2%294744VW ID.38990.6%+ 25.6%462,9980.5%+ 103.4%457145Cupra Formentor8520.6%+ 7.3%542,6310.5%– 10.0%555246Kia Niro8460.6%+ 22.3%682,2870.4%– 33.3%606747MG 38360.6%+ 6866.7%522,6350.5%+ 21858.3%535648BYD Seal U7950.6%+ 1992.1%1131,2940.2%+ 2341.5%8813749Seat Ibiza7850.6%– 30.5%552,8200.5%– 17.2%504550Skoda Kamiq7670.6%– 14.3%502,6140.5%+ 1.2%5664

Source: PFA