First podium finish at home for the Renault Clio VI.
For the first time since last October, the French new car market is actually up year-on-year in March at a very robust +12.9% to 173,633 units. Keep in mind however that March 2025 was off -14.5% on the year prior. Due to a poor start of 2026, the Q1 volume is still in negative at -2.1% to 401,555. Encouragingly, private sales soar 22% to 80,183 and 46.2% share vs. 42.7% in March 2025. Long term leases among private buyers are up 42% to 28% share and short term rentals are up 19%. Meanwhile fleets are struggling at -3% to 39,172 units and 22.6% share vs. 26.3% a year ago, but BEV sales within fleets surge 77% year-on-year to reach 41% share. In the market as a whole, BEVs are up 69% to 49,406 units and 28.5% share vs. just 19% a year ago and year-to-date volumes are up 50.4% to 112,086 and 27.9% share vs. 18.2% over the same period in 2025.
The Tesla Model Y is just 15 units off a historical pole position.
In the brands ranking, Renault (+13.6%) manages to beat the market to reach 19.2% share, its highest since June 2022 (21.3%). In contrast Peugeot (-11%) is in dire straits and falls to a paltry 12.1% share vs. 14.1% so far this year. Dacia (+12%) returns to #3 after a couple of though months and climbs back up to #4 year-to-date. Citroen (+23.2%) is in excellent shape thanks to a renewed lineup and distances Volkswagen (+4.2%) and Toyota (-0.6%), both weak. Tesla (+203.1%) delivers an outstanding result, soaring to #7 with 9,569 sales and 5.5% share. This is the carmaker’s best ranking since December 2023 (#6), 2nd highest volume for just 3 units and highest share since November 2023 (6.1%). Fiat (+53.4%), BMW (+37%), Kia (+27.4%) and Audi (+20.3%) shine below. In the BEV brands ranking, Renault dominates with 9,613 sales (+46%) ahead of Tesla and Peugeot at 4,003 (+30%).
The Renault Twingo IV breaks into the Top 50 for the first time.
We have a completely reshuffled models charts, with the Top 3 fitting within less than 50 sales. The Dacia Sandero (+12.4%) is the overall best-seller with 4.1% share, the nameplate’s first monthly win since July 2024. Just 15 units below is the Tesla Model Y (+203%), reaching #2 with over 7,000 sales and 4% share. These are all records, beating its previous best of #4 (March 2023 and September 2024), 6,456 sales (March 2023) and 3.5% share (March 2023 and September 2025). Note that Tesla offered an additional 3,000€ cash for clunkers for the Model Y from January 9 to March 31. For its first real month of sales, the Renault Clio VI is up 8 spots on February to crack the podium for the first time at #3. The Peugeot 2008 (+4.7%) edges up at #4 while the Peugeot 208 (-26.8%) is in complete freefall at #5 but still tops the YTD charts. Other notable results include the Citroen C3 Aircross at #9, the Renault 5 down to #11, Tesla Model 3 up to #19 and the Renault Twingo IV breaking into the Top 50 at #47
Previous month: France February 2026: Citroen C3 best-seller, Renault Clio VI back outside Top 10
One year ago: France March 2025: Renault Symbioz cracks Top 10, Tesla off -36.8%
Full March 2026 Top 25 brands and Top 75 models below.
France March 2026 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Mar-26 | % | /25 | Feb | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Renault | 33,386 | 19.2% | + 13.6% | 1 | 75,205 | 18.7% | + 5.1% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Peugeot | 21,079 | 12.1% | – 11.0% | 2 | 56,532 | 14.1% | – 13.5% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Dacia | 14,884 | 8.6% | + 12.0% | 4 | 29,638 | 7.4% | – 17.8% | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Citroen | 13,315 | 7.7% | + 23.2% | 3 | 34,488 | 8.6% | + 9.1% | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Volkswagen | 10,594 | 6.1% | + 4.3% | 5 | 25,578 | 6.4% | – 8.0% | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | Toyota | 9,666 | 5.6% | – 0.6% | 6 | 26,637 | 6.6% | – 10.8% | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | Tesla | 9,569 | 5.5% | + 203.1% | 9 | 13,945 | 3.5% | + 108.4% | 7 | 18 |
| 8 | BMW | 6,670 | 3.8% | + 37.0% | 7 | 13,316 | 3.3% | – 8.0% | 8 | 7 |
| 9 | Audi | 5,195 | 3.0% | + 20.3% | 12 | 11,020 | 2.7% | – 0.3% | 10 | 9 |
| 10 | Skoda | 4,785 | 2.8% | + 1.6% | 8 | 11,664 | 2.9% | + 4.6% | 9 | 8 |
| 11 | Mercedes | 3,995 | 2.3% | + 10.6% | 16 | 7,835 | 2.0% | + 6.6% | 15 | 11 |
| 12 | Ford | 3,758 | 2.2% | + 10.8% | 14 | 8,339 | 2.1% | – 11.8% | 13 | 12 |
| 13 | Opel | 3,550 | 2.0% | + 7.7% | 11 | 9,848 | 2.5% | + 19.1% | 11 | 15 |
| 14 | Kia | 3,254 | 1.9% | + 27.4% | 15 | 7,464 | 1.9% | – 2.7% | 16 | 13 |
| 15 | Fiat | 3,250 | 1.9% | + 53.4% | 13 | 7,914 | 2.0% | + 45.4% | 14 | 20 |
| 16 | Hyundai | 3,173 | 1.8% | – 1.7% | 10 | 8,875 | 2.2% | – 13.6% | 12 | 10 |
| 17 | MG (est) | 2,800 | 1.6% | – 1.0% | 17 | 6,065 | 1.5% | – 4.0% | 17 | 14 |
| 18 | Nissan | 2,570 | 1.5% | + 3.4% | 19 | 5,525 | 1.4% | – 23.0% | 19 | 16 |
| 19 | Mini | 2,458 | 1.4% | + 28.1% | 18 | 5,856 | 1.5% | + 5.7% | 18 | 17 |
| 20 | Suzuki | 2,125 | 1.2% | + 2.1% | 21 | 4,892 | 1.2% | – 12.5% | 20 | 21 |
| 21 | Cupra | 1,910 | 1.1% | – 5.7% | 20 | 4,416 | 1.1% | – 10.4% | 21 | 19 |
| 22 | DS | 1,376 | 0.8% | – 1.8% | 23 | 3,214 | 0.8% | – 12.0% | 22 | 23 |
| 23 | Volvo | 1,170 | 0.7% | – 3.1% | 26 | 2,534 | 0.6% | + 6.1% | 26 | 25 |
| 24 | BYD (est) | 1,100 | 0.6% | + 66.9% | 22 | 2,947 | 0.7% | + 81.1% | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | Jeep | 1,068 | 0.6% | + 4.5% | 24 | 2,652 | 0.7% | – 1.5% | 24 | 26 |
France March 2026 – models:
| Pos | Model | Mar-26 | % | /25 | Feb | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Dacia Sandero | 7,038 | 4.1% | + 12.4% | 5 | 13,633 | 3.4% | – 22.5% | 4 | 3 |
| 2 | Tesla Model Y | 7,023 | 4.0% | + 203.0% | 7 | 10,670 | 2.7% | + 127.2% | 7 | 15 |
| 3 | Renault Clio VI | 6,990 | 4.0% | new | 11 | 12,312 | 3.1% | new | 6 | 141 |
| 4 | Peugeot 2008 | 6,259 | 3.6% | + 4.7% | 3 | 14,431 | 3.6% | – 9.5% | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Peugeot 208 | 6,100 | 3.5% | – 26.8% | 2 | 17,365 | 4.3% | – 18.0% | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Citroen C3 | 5,083 | 2.9% | + 9.7% | 1 | 14,992 | 3.7% | – 18.4% | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | Renault Clio V | 4,252 | 2.4% | – 55.3% | 4 | 12,533 | 3.1% | – 46.8% | 5 | 1 |
| 8 | Renault Captur | 4,090 | 2.4% | – 13.4% | 10 | 9,359 | 2.3% | – 16.5% | 9 | 8 |
| 9 | Citroen C3 Aircross II | 3,773 | 2.2% | + 647.1% | 14 | 8,354 | 2.1% | + 1018.3% | 11 | 18 |
| 10 | Renault Symbioz | 3,530 | 2.0% | – 1.2% | 12 | 7,532 | 1.9% | – 5.0% | 15 | 12 |
| 11 | Renault 5 | 3,493 | 2.0% | + 4.6% | 9 | 10,084 | 2.5% | + 9.8% | 8 | 7 |
| 12 | Dacia Duster III | 3,486 | 2.0% | – 6.9% | 13 | 7,650 | 1.9% | – 31.1% | 14 | 9 |
| 13 | Peugeot 3008 | 3,165 | 1.8% | – 10.4% | 6 | 9,236 | 2.3% | – 23.6% | 10 | 6 |
| 14 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 2,988 | 1.7% | – 5.1% | 15 | 7,733 | 1.9% | – 21.8% | 13 | 11 |
| 15 | Renault Scenic V | 2,824 | 1.6% | + 26.9% | 18 | 6,896 | 1.7% | + 56.9% | 17 | 22 |
| 16 | Peugeot 308 | 2,821 | 1.6% | – 15.5% | 8 | 8,135 | 2.0% | – 8.2% | 12 | 13 |
| 17 | Citroen C5 Aircross II | 2,630 | 1.5% | new | 17 | 6,214 | 1.5% | new | 18 | 99 |
| 18 | Toyota Yaris | 2,629 | 1.5% | – 3.7% | 16 | 7,467 | 1.9% | – 4.5% | 16 | 10 |
| 19 | Tesla Model 3 | 2,525 | 1.5% | + 208.3% | 52 | 3,225 | 0.8% | + 65.6% | 30 | 73 |
| 20 | Renault Austral | 2,369 | 1.4% | + 5.4% | 25 | 4,738 | 1.2% | – 9.7% | 22 | 16 |
| 21 | Dacia Bigster | 1,892 | 1.1% | + 83.5% | 26 | 4,306 | 1.1% | + 284.1% | 23 | 21 |
| 22 | VW Polo | 1,788 | 1.0% | – 18.9% | 21 | 4,884 | 1.2% | – 21.9% | 21 | 14 |
| 23 | VW T-Roc II | 1,743 | 1.0% | new | 24 | 3,957 | 1.0% | new | 25 | 159 |
| 24 | Peugeot 5008 III | 1,737 | 1.0% | + 12.1% | 19 | 5,055 | 1.3% | + 10.7% | 20 | 17 |
| 25 | Toyota Aygo X | 1,625 | 0.9% | + 72.5% | 35 | 3,441 | 0.9% | + 14.9% | 27 | 39 |
| 26 | Opel Corsa | 1,617 | 0.9% | – 0.4% | 23 | 4,166 | 1.0% | – 19.3% | 24 | 26 |
| 27 | Toyota C-HR II | 1,552 | 0.9% | + 9.3% | 20 | 5,206 | 1.3% | + 32.6% | 19 | 29 |
| 28 | BMW X1 | 1,481 | 0.9% | + 56.4% | 43 | 2,665 | 0.7% | – 5.5% | 38 | 40 |
| 29 | Nissan Qashqai | 1,481 | 0.9% | + 25.4% | 34 | 3,076 | 0.8% | – 5.8% | 32 | 30 |
| 30 | Renault 4 | 1,477 | 0.9% | + 24516.7% | 44 | 3,119 | 0.8% | + 9646.9% | 31 | 64 |
| 31 | Ford Puma | 1,465 | 0.8% | + 18.2% | 27 | 3,866 | 1.0% | – 1.0% | 26 | 19 |
| 32 | VW ID.4 | 1,410 | 0.8% | + 195.6% | 29 | 3,300 | 0.8% | + 157.6% | 29 | 72 |
| 33 | Renault Espace | 1,353 | 0.8% | + 70.6% | 76 | 2,089 | 0.5% | + 9.9% | 55 | 51 |
| 34 | Dacia Jogger | 1,326 | 0.8% | – 19.2% | 63 | 2,330 | 0.6% | – 43.7% | 47 | 28 |
| 35 | Mini Hatch | 1,309 | 0.8% | + 40.5% | 40 | 2,914 | 0.7% | + 3.4% | 34 | 35 |
| 36 | Suzuki Swift | 1,250 | 0.7% | – 7.6% | 60 | 2,750 | 0.7% | – 25.3% | 36 | 36 |
| 37 | MG ZS | 1,183 | 0.7% | – 9.9% | 36 | 2,436 | 0.6% | – 24.0% | 42 | 34 |
| 38 | BMW S̩rie 1 | 1,179 | 0.7% | + 5.5% | 41 | 2,260 | 0.6% | Р39.8% | 49 | 33 |
| 39 | Ford Explorer | 1,161 | 0.7% | + 420.6% | 82 | 1,803 | 0.4% | + 286.1% | 61 | 126 |
| 40 | Skoda Fabia | 1,147 | 0.7% | – 20.0% | 48 | 2,403 | 0.6% | – 14.6% | 45 | 41 |
| 41 | Dacia Spring | 1,142 | 0.7% | + 88.4% | 111 | 1,719 | 0.4% | – 18.6% | 65 | 62 |
| 42 | VW Tiguan III | 1,117 | 0.6% | – 11.1% | 33 | 2,689 | 0.7% | – 31.3% | 37 | 24 |
| 43 | Hyundai Kona | 1,113 | 0.6% | + 4.8% | 22 | 3,321 | 0.8% | + 2.3% | 28 | 37 |
| 44 | VW T-Cross | 1,105 | 0.6% | – 20.5% | 42 | 2,342 | 0.6% | – 26.3% | 46 | 31 |
| 45 | Skoda Elroq | 1,096 | 0.6% | + 254.7% | 31 | 2,911 | 0.7% | + 440.1% | 35 | 58 |
| 46 | Renault Twingo IV | 1,059 | 0.6% | new | 139 | 1,182 | 0.3% | new | 82 | 344 |
| 47 | Audi A3 | 1,052 | 0.6% | + 55.9% | 47 | 2,221 | 0.6% | + 39.7% | 50 | 45 |
| 48 | Fiat Grande Panda | 1,041 | 0.6% | new | 65 | 2,135 | 0.5% | new | 53 | 83 |
| 49 | Citroen C4 | 1,011 | 0.6% | – 69.1% | 28 | 3,061 | 0.8% | – 50.7% | 33 | 25 |
| 50 | BMW iX1 | 1,007 | 0.6% | + 82.4% | 45 | 2,326 | 0.6% | + 69.9% | 48 | 47 |
| 51 | Audi Q4 | 1,006 | 0.6% | + 48.6% | 72 | 1,887 | 0.5% | + 6.5% | 58 | 68 |
| 52 | Hyundai Tucson | 1,003 | 0.6% | – 4.0% | 37 | 2,410 | 0.6% | – 19.9% | 44 | 23 |
| 53 | VW ID.3 | 983 | 0.6% | + 11.8% | 39 | 2,430 | 0.6% | + 15.8% | 43 | 55 |
| 54 | Mercedes GLA | 977 | 0.6% | + 28.9% | 61 | 1,793 | 0.4% | + 3.5% | 62 | 43 |
| 55 | Fiat 600 | 968 | 0.6% | + 11.6% | 30 | 2,557 | 0.6% | – 5.9% | 40 | 59 |
| 56 | Fiat 500 | 913 | 0.5% | + 54.5% | 49 | 2,107 | 0.5% | + 21.7% | 54 | 82 |
| 57 | Renault Rafale | 894 | 0.5% | – 16.0% | 66 | 1,675 | 0.4% | – 26.0% | 70 | 54 |
| 58 | VW Golf | 892 | 0.5% | – 3.8% | 38 | 2,522 | 0.6% | – 17.0% | 41 | 32 |
| 59 | Mini Countryman | 863 | 0.5% | + 54.1% | 46 | 2,202 | 0.5% | + 35.2% | 51 | 61 |
| 60 | Kia Sportage | 839 | 0.5% | + 17.8% | 59 | 1,718 | 0.4% | – 12.9% | 66 | 46 |
| 61 | Ford Kuga | 805 | 0.5% | – 28.9% | 56 | 1,830 | 0.5% | – 35.1% | 60 | 38 |
| 62 | Mercedes CLA | 781 | 0.4% | + 136.7% | 73 | 1,595 | 0.4% | + 177.9% | 72 | 112 |
| 63 | Audi Q3 | 776 | 0.4% | + 70.5% | 51 | 1,986 | 0.5% | + 67.2% | 57 | 80 |
| 64 | Renault Megane E-Tech | 756 | 0.4% | – 23.6% | 32 | 2,636 | 0.7% | + 17.2% | 39 | 50 |
| 65 | MG 3 | 748 | 0.4% | – 8.1% | 57 | 1,712 | 0.4% | – 4.8% | 67 | 42 |
| 66 | Nissan Juke | 748 | 0.4% | – 13.0% | 69 | 1,601 | 0.4% | – 33.6% | 71 | 44 |
| 67 | Skoda Kamiq | 719 | 0.4% | – 13.3% | 58 | 1,712 | 0.4% | – 7.3% | 68 | 56 |
| 68 | Audi A1 | 712 | 0.4% | – 32.5% | 68 | 1,759 | 0.4% | – 35.5% | 63 | 52 |
| 69 | Skoda Octavia | 700 | 0.4% | + 3.2% | 55 | 1,873 | 0.5% | – 10.4% | 59 | 48 |
| 70 | Opel Frontera | 665 | 0.4% | + 375.0% | 53 | 2,004 | 0.5% | + 1137.0% | 56 | 84 |
| 71 | Peugeot 408 | 643 | 0.4% | + 6.8% | 80 | 1,352 | 0.3% | – 6.9% | 77 | 87 |
| 72 | Opel Mokka | 638 | 0.4% | – 36.2% | 50 | 2,140 | 0.5% | + 18.0% | 52 | 66 |
| 73 | MG EHS | 635 | 0.4% | + 56.8% | 67 | 1,398 | 0.3% | + 101.4% | 75 | 76 |
| 74 | Kia Niro | 601 | 0.3% | + 3.4% | 75 | 1,358 | 0.3% | – 5.8% | 76 | 65 |
| 75 | VW Taigo | 584 | 0.3% | – 24.3% | 101 | 1,056 | 0.3% | – 40.5% | 87 | 67 |
Source: PFA
