In full-year 2021, the Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio were again the best-selling car models in France. French models dominated the top-ten list.
In 2021, the Peugeot 208 II was the top-selling car model in France followed again by the Renault Clio V and Peugeot II. The Toyota Yaris was the top imported car model and entered the top-ten list of best-sellers otherwise dominated by French brands. The Tesla Model 3 replaced the Renault Zoe as the best-selling battery-electric-only model name in France in 2021. The French new car market expanded by only half a percentage point (fewer than 9,000 cars) in full-year 2021.
Latest French Car Sales Statistics — 2023: Market Overview, Brands, Models; 2022, 2021, 2020.
Top 30 Best-Selling Car Models in France in 2021 (Full Year)
The thirty best-selling car models in France in 2021 according to car sales statistics data released by the CCFA were:
| Brand and Model | Sold 2021 | % Market Share |
| 1 PEUGEOT 208 II | 88 013 | 5,3% |
| 2 RENAULT CLIO V | 85 247 | 5,1% |
| 3 PEUGEOT 2008 II | 75 477 | 4,5% |
| 4 DACIA SANDERO 3 | 73 740 | 4,4% |
| 5 CITROEN C3 Ill | 65 365 | 3,9% |
| 6 RENAULT CAPTUR II | 52 596 | 3,2% |
| 7 PEUGEOT 3008 II | 50 399 | 3,0% |
| 8 TOYOTA YARIS | 32 299 | 1,9% |
| 9 DACIA DUSTER 2 | 31 058 | 1,9% |
| 10 RENAULT TWINGO lll | 29 111 | 1,8% |
| 11 RENAULT MEGANE IV | 27 952 | 1,7% |
| 12 CITROEN C3 AIRCR. | 26 666 | 1,6% |
| 13 FIAT 500 | 25 042 | 1,5% |
| 14 TESLA MODEL 3 | 24 911 | 1,5% |
| 15 VOLKSWAGEN POLO VI | 23 882 | 1,4% |
| 16 RENAULT ZOE | 23 573 | 1,4% |
| 17 CITROEN CS AIRCR. | 21 907 | 1,3% |
| 18 PEUGEOT 5008 II | 21 478 | 1,3% |
| 19 CITROEN C4 Ill | 19 783 | 1,2% |
| 20 VOLKSWAGEN T-ROC | 18 145 | 1,1% |
| 21 RENAULT ARKANA | 17 977 | 1,1% |
| 22 HYUNDAI TUCSONlll | 17 755 | 1,1% |
| 23 PEUGEOT 308 II | 17 436 | 1,1% |
| 24 TOYOTA COROLLA | 16 872 | 1,0% |
| 25 FORD PUMA | 16 176 | 1,0% |
| 26 MINI MINI Ill | 16 040 | 1,0% |
| 27 OPEL CORSA | 15 869 | 1,0% |
| 28 TOYOTA C-HR | 14 565 | 0,9% |
| 29 VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS | 13 946 | 0,8% |
| 30 MERCEDES CLASSE A | 13 873 | 0,8% |
Top-Selling Car Models in France in 2021 (Full Year)
For the second consecutive year, the most popular car models in France in 2021 were the Peugeot 208, Renault Clio, and Peugeot 2008. However, in contrast to the results in 2020, the Peugeot 208 was the clear top model in 2021.
The CCFA statistics are for a specific car model, not just the nameplate. When new car models are introduced during the calendar year, the sales for the older and new models are counted separately. In 2020, the Clio IV and V outsold the 208 II while the 208 II outsold the Clio V. In 2021, the Peugeot outsold the Renault by almost 3,000 cars with both models taking just over 5% market share in France. However, both models are losing market share and sold in lower numbers than a year ago while most other top models increased sales. In 2019, Renault sold 131,507 Clios and Peugeot 105,589 of the 208.
The Peugeot 2008 was again the third most popular car model in France in 2021. It was selling in record numbers — around 10,000 units more than it did in recent years.
The Dacia Sandero benefited from a new model launch early in the year and gained two rank positions. As a result, the Citroen C3 and Renault Captur each clipped down one rank position.
The Peugeot 3008 was again the seventh most-popular car model in France in 2021. Together with the Peugeot 5008 (at 18th), it was the only other top-20 model in the same rank position as a year ago.
The Toyota Yaris, which is produced in France, was the eighth most best-selling car model in 2021. It was the favorite foreign car model of the French for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the Yaris was at eleventh.
The Dacia Duster entered the top ten at ninth (from 12th) while the Renault Twingo slipped two positions to tenth.
The Renault Zoe dropped out of the ten from 9th to 16th and the Peugeot 308 slipped from tenth to 23rd. The 308 was caught by a model change early the year that was massively compromised by the computer chip shortage. Even if the Peugeot 308 II and III (4,078 units) are combined, it will only just enter the top 20.
Top-Selling Electric Car Models in France in 2021
It is not possible to determine from the initial CCFA statistics the number of electric cars sold of models such as the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa but it is reasonable to assume that the battery-electric-only nameplates Model 3 and Zoe still are the market leaders.
The Tesla Model 3 improved from 64th in 2020 to the 14th most-popular car model in France in 2021 and thus the best-selling electric car in France. Previous battery-electric favorite Renault Zoe slipped from ninth to 16th — the Zoe probably struggling more in the face of domestic competition from the Stellantis Group than from the far more expensive Model 3. The Volkswagen ID3 improve from 90th a year ago to 67th with sales of 5,860 cars — less than a quarter of Model 3 sales.
See also market overview and best-selling car brands in France in 2021.
Latest French Car Sales Statistics — 2023: Market Overview, Brands, Models; 2022, 2021, 2020.
