In March 2022, the French automotive market recorded its tenth consecutive month of decline, i.e. -19.5% according to data from NGC-Data®. The French leading trio, led by Peugeot, is particularly suffering, unlike Dacia, which remains in 4th position with an increase of + 31.4%.
According to figures from NGC-Data®, the French automotive market recorded 147,098 registrations in March 2022, i.e. a heavy drop of -19.5% compared to March 2021. This is the tenth consecutive month of decline. Over the first quarter as a whole, only 365,382 passenger cars were registered, i.e. – 17.3% compared to the same period in 2021, but – 34% compared to the 553,335 units in 2019.
While there is already a shortage of 200,000 cars compared to the last reference year, the automobile market is heading for a third consecutive year of decline. This while the shortage of semiconductors still penalizes production times and the war in Ukraine adds new disruptions. Rise in raw materials, shortages of components, regular increases in vehicle prices… The clouds are gathering over the automotive market and the bright spot still does not seem to be on the cards.
TO READ. All indicators of the French automotive market in March 2022
Peugeot, Renault and Citroën are particularly affected
In the month of March alone, the French leading trio suffered particularly. In the lead with 21,600 registrations (-33.6%), Peugeot lost 3.1 points of market share (14.7%). His runner-up Renault lost 2.2 points to 14.2%, while Citroën dropped 1.1 points to 9.4%. Together, the three French general brands barely weigh 38.3% of the market in March, against 41.2% in February.
Within the top 20, Dacia (+31.4%), Tesla (+7.1%), Kia (+6.5%) and Hyundai (+1.8%) are the only manufacturers to record a monthly increase of their registrations. On the contrary, Toyota (-20.2%), Mercedes (-21.3%), Audi (-22.2%), BMW (-24%), Opel (-23.4%), Fiat (-27 .6%), Nissan (-20%), Mini (-31.4%) and Suzuki (-23.2%) managed the feat of underperforming the French market, which was already in bad shape. Thus, the Stellantis (– 29.6%), Toyota (– 20.4%), BMW (– 26.7%) and Mercedes (– 21.2%) groups show worse than average performance.
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Tesla, Kia and Hyundai in the green
For the first quarter of 2022 as a whole, the figures are therefore hardly encouraging, since the first three months of the year were negative. Within the top 20, only Tesla (+46.5%), Kia (+4%) and Hyundai (+7.2%) show a volume of registrations in the green.
Peugeot, a solid leader ahead of Renault since the lion passed the diamond in 2021, maintains a lead of more than 7,500 cars but fell by 28% at the end of March, the largest drop in the top 20. Mini (-0.2%), DS (-2.6%) and Dacia (-5, 2%) are the only ones to limit the damage with a drop of less than -10%.
