The Renault 5 is the best-selling BEV in France in April.

After getting back in positive for the first time in 5 months in March, the French new car market is back down -0.3% year-on-year in April to 138,339 units. The year-to-date tally after four months is down -1.6% to 539,895. Petrol sales are down -24.1% to 21,963, diesel is off -42.8% to 3,834, HEVs edge down -1.3% to 62,241, PHEVs drop -13.1% to 8,333 and BEVs surge 41.8% to 36,216 and 26.2% share vs. 18.4% a year ago in April 2025. YTD BEV sales are up 48.2% to 148,302 and 27.5% share vs. 18.2% over the same period in 2025.

Renault (-11.5%) struggles this month and is down to 16.8% share vs. 18.2% so far this year. In contrast Peugeot (+2.8%) edges up, but at 13.3% of the market it remains below its YTD level of 13.9%. Dacia (-5.3%) is in negative once again, yet less so than YTD (-14.7%). Citroen (+11%) is strong thanks to a renewed lineup, and is followed by Volkswagen (+8%) and a diving Toyota (-17%). Skoda is up 6.9% to a record 7th place, also reached in October 2025 and January 2026. MG is estimated to climb +44.8%, with Audi (+24.1%), Opel (+13.9%) and Nissan (+12.8%) also in solid shape.

Model-wise, the Peugeot 208 (+14%) returns to the pole position it last held last January, distancing the Dacia Sandero (+4.8%) down one spot on last month to #1. The new Renault Clio VI is still finding its groove but falls from 4% share in March to 3.7% this month. The Citroen C3 (+12.1%) satisfies with a 4th place and still ranks #2 year-to-date. Disappointing month for the Peugeot 2008 (-12.3%) down to #5. The Renault 5 (+50.8%) is back to the top of the BEV charts at #6 overall and #7 year-to-date. The Citroen C3 Aircross II (+146.2%), Nissan Qashqai (+61.1%) and Renault Scenic V (+44.5%) all impress, just as the VW T-Roc II breaks into the Top 20 for the first time at #17. The BYD Atto 2 (+655.1%) surges 89 spots on March to #42, the Renault 4 (+743.4%) is down 19 ranks to #49, the new Kia EV4 is up 38 to #52 and the Renault Twingo IV is down 32 to #79 as dealerships get filled up with demo models.

Previous month: France March 2026: Dacia Sandero, Tesla Model Y and Renault Clio VI in photo finish

One year ago: France April 2025: Sales down -5.6%, Renault up, places Symbioz above Captur

Full April 2026 Top 25 brands and Top 80 models below.

France April 2026 – brands:

Pos	Brand	Apr-26	%	/25	Mar	2026	%	/25	Pos	FY25
1	Renault	23,297	16.8%	– 11.5%	1	98,503	18.2%	+ 0.6%	1	1
2	Peugeot	18,395	13.3%	+ 2.8%	2	74,927	13.9%	– 10.0%	2	2
3	Dacia	11,505	8.3%	– 5.3%	3	41,143	7.6%	– 14.7%	4	3
4	Citroen	10,469	7.6%	+ 11.0%	4	44,957	8.3%	+ 9.5%	3	4
5	Volkswagen	9,356	6.8%	+ 8.0%	5	34,934	6.5%	– 4.2%	6	5
6	Toyota	9,068	6.6%	– 17.0%	6	35,705	6.6%	– 12.5%	5	6
7	Skoda	4,633	3.3%	+ 6.9%	10	16,297	3.0%	+ 5.2%	8	8
8	Mercedes	4,423	3.2%	– 1.8%	11	12,258	2.3%	+ 3.4%	12	11
9	BMW	4,314	3.1%	– 9.2%	8	17,631	3.3%	– 8.3%	7	7
10	Audi	4,185	3.0%	+ 24.1%	9	15,205	2.8%	+ 5.4%	10	9
11	Hyundai	3,295	2.4%	– 19.8%	16	12,170	2.3%	– 15.4%	13	10
12	Opel	3,145	2.3%	+ 13.9%	13	12,993	2.4%	+ 17.8%	11	15
13	Kia	3,062	2.2%	– 7.0%	14	10,526	1.9%	– 4.0%	15	13
14	Nissan	2,784	2.0%	+ 12.8%	18	8,309	1.5%	– 13.8%	18	16
15	MG (est)	2,650	1.9%	+ 44.8%	17	8,779	1.6%	+ 7.8%	17	14
16	Ford	2,485	1.8%	– 22.6%	12	10,824	2.0%	– 14.6%	14	12
17	Fiat	2,174	1.6%	+ 113.8%	15	10,088	1.9%	+ 56.2%	16	20
18	BYD (est)	2,100	1.5%	+ 1.7%	22	5,487	1.0%	+ 48.7%	22	24
19	Cupra	1,941	1.4%	– 13.0%	21	6,357	1.2%	– 11.2%	21	19
20	Mini	1,892	1.4%	– 16.0%	19	7,748	1.4%	– 0.6%	19	17
21	Tesla	1,829	1.3%	+ 111.9%	7	15,774	2.9%	+ 108.8%	9	18
22	Suzuki	1,733	1.3%	– 5.8%	20	6,625	1.2%	– 10.8%	20	21
23	Seat	1,143	0.8%	– 17.5%	27	3,758	0.7%	– 28.3%	24	22
24	DS	1,100	0.8%	– 12.8%	23	4,314	0.8%	– 12.2%	23	23
25	Volvo	874	0.6%	– 10.7%	24	3,408	0.6%	+ 1.2%	26	25

France April 2026 – models:

Pos	Model	Apr-26	%	/25	Mar	2026	%	/25	Pos	FY25
1	Peugeot 208	6,469	4.7%	+ 14.0%	5	23,834	4.4%	– 11.2%	1	2
2	Dacia Sandero	5,353	3.9%	+ 4.8%	1	18,986	3.5%	– 16.4%	3	3
3	Renault Clio VI	5,118	3.7%	new	3	17,430	3.2%	new	5	141
4	Citroen C3	4,885	3.5%	+ 12.1%	6	19,877	3.7%	– 12.6%	2	4
5	Peugeot 2008	3,780	2.7%	– 12.3%	4	18,211	3.4%	– 10.1%	4	5
6	Renault 5	3,418	2.5%	+ 50.8%	11	13,502	2.5%	+ 17.9%	7	7
7	Peugeot 3008	3,383	2.4%	+ 5.3%	13	12,619	2.3%	– 17.5%	8	6
8	Renault Captur	2,850	2.1%	– 14.5%	8	12,209	2.3%	– 16.0%	9	8
9	Toyota Yaris Cross	2,848	2.1%	– 6.1%	14	10,581	2.0%	– 18.1%	13	11
10	Dacia Duster III	2,790	2.0%	– 33.2%	12	10,440	1.9%	– 31.7%	14	9
11	Toyota Yaris	2,769	2.0%	– 24.1%	18	10,236	1.9%	– 10.7%	16	10
12	Renault Symbioz	2,763	2.0%	– 32.3%	10	10,295	1.9%	– 14.3%	15	12
13	Peugeot 308	2,539	1.8%	+ 4.8%	16	10,674	2.0%	– 5.4%	12	13
14	Citroen C3 Aircross II	2,519	1.8%	+ 146.2%	9	10,873	2.0%	+ 514.3%	11	18
15	Renault Scenic V	2,114	1.5%	+ 44.5%	15	9,010	1.7%	+ 53.8%	17	22
16	Renault Clio V	2,097	1.5%	– 77.7%	7	14,630	2.7%	– 55.6%	6	1
17	VW T-Roc II	2,008	1.5%	new	23	5,965	1.1%	new	23	159
18	Nissan Qashqai	1,804	1.3%	+ 61.1%	29	4,880	0.9%	+ 11.3%	26	30
19	Citroen C5 Aircross II	1,627	1.2%	new	17	7,841	1.5%	new	18	99
20	Dacia Bigster	1,590	1.1%	+ 42.6%	21	5,896	1.1%	+ 163.7%	24	21
21	Opel Corsa	1,570	1.1%	+ 42.9%	27	5,736	1.1%	– 8.4%	25	26
22	Tesla Model Y	1,456	1.1%	+ 169.1%	2	12,126	2.2%	+ 131.5%	10	15
23	VW Polo	1,442	1.0%	– 11.2%	22	6,326	1.2%	– 19.7%	20	14
24	Peugeot 5008 III	1,431	1.0%	– 10.3%	24	6,486	1.2%	+ 5.3%	19	17
25	Toyota Aygo X	1,389	1.0%	+ 17.4%	26	4,830	0.9%	+ 15.6%	28	39
26	Renault Austral	1,362	1.0%	– 30.6%	20	6,100	1.1%	– 15.4%	22	16
27	Hyundai Kona	1,304	0.9%	+ 5.1%	43	4,625	0.9%	+ 3.1%	29	37
28	VW ID.4	1,216	0.9%	+ 179.5%	32	4,516	0.8%	+ 163.2%	30	72
29	Dacia Jogger	1,184	0.9%	– 3.7%	34	3,514	0.7%	– 34.5%	38	28
30	Toyota C-HR II	1,113	0.8%	– 33.6%	25	6,319	1.2%	+ 12.8%	21	29
31	Skoda Elroq	1,092	0.8%	+ 109.6%	46	4,003	0.7%	+ 277.6%	31	58
32	Hyundai Tucson	1,020	0.7%	– 28.1%	51	3,430	0.6%	– 22.6%	41	23
33	VW T-Cross	1,016	0.7%	+ 4.7%	45	3,358	0.6%	– 19.0%	43	31
34	Mini Hatch	1,010	0.7%	– 13.7%	52	3,924	0.7%	– 1.6%	34	35
35	Suzuki Swift	1,010	0.7%	– 15.8%	35	3,760	0.7%	– 23.0%	35	36
36	MG 3	1,004	0.7%	+ 20.1%	66	2,716	0.5%	+ 3.1%	55	42
37	Mercedes CLA	994	0.7%	+ 225.9%	62	2,589	0.5%	+ 194.5%	59	112
38	Audi A3	984	0.7%	+ 10.4%	44	3,205	0.6%	+ 29.2%	47	45
39	Skoda Fabia	980	0.7%	– 7.1%	40	3,383	0.6%	– 12.6%	42	41
40	Ford Puma	965	0.7%	– 25.5%	31	4,831	0.9%	– 7.1%	27	19
41	VW Golf	961	0.7%	– 11.2%	58	3,483	0.6%	– 15.5%	39	32
42	BYD Atto 2	959	0.7%	+ 655.1%	131	1,330	0.2%	+ 436.3%	90	200
43	Renault Megane E-Tech	917	0.7%	+ 44.0%	65	3,553	0.7%	+ 23.1%	37	50
44	Citroen C4	880	0.6%	– 47.6%	38	3,941	0.7%	– 50.0%	33	25
45	Fiat 500	875	0.6%	+ 151.4%	56	2,982	0.6%	+ 43.4%	51	82
46	MG ZS	873	0.6%	+ 74.9%	36	3,309	0.6%	– 10.7%	44	34
47	Audi Q4	849	0.6%	+ 42.7%	50	2,736	0.5%	+ 15.6%	54	68
48	BMW Série 1	838	0.6%	– 9.6%	37	3,098	0.6%	– 33.8%	48	33
49	Renault 4	835	0.6%	+ 743.4%	30	3,954	0.7%	+ 2918.3%	32	64
50	VW ID.3	816	0.6%	– 9.2%	54	3,246	0.6%	+ 8.3%	46	55
51	VW Tiguan III	785	0.6%	– 45.6%	42	3,474	0.6%	– 35.2%	40	24
52	Kia EV4	778	0.6%	new	90	2,016	0.4%	new	74	202
53	BMW iX1	763	0.6%	+ 22.1%	49	3,089	0.6%	+ 54.9%	49	47
54	Kia Sportage	755	0.5%	+ 4.6%	60	2,473	0.5%	– 8.2%	61	46
55	Mercedes Classe A	746	0.5%	– 21.4%	84	1,818	0.3%	– 27.0%	78	49
56	Seat Ibiza	711	0.5%	– 9.4%	77	2,183	0.4%	– 22.6%	70	57
57	Ford Explorer	663	0.5%	+ 272.5%	39	2,466	0.5%	+ 282.3%	62	126
58	Skoda Octavia	656	0.5%	– 13.9%	69	2,529	0.5%	– 11.3%	60	48
59	Mercedes GLA	643	0.5%	– 40.4%	55	2,436	0.5%	– 13.3%	64	43
60	Opel Frontera	641	0.5%	+ 36.7%	70	2,645	0.5%	+ 319.2%	57	84
61	BMW X1	632	0.5%	– 40.2%	28	3,297	0.6%	– 14.9%	45	40
62	Cupra Born	627	0.5%	+ 64.6%	93	1,893	0.4%	+ 18.2%	76	81
63	Ford Kuga	619	0.4%	– 40.1%	61	2,449	0.5%	– 36.5%	63	38
64	Mini Countryman	618	0.4%	+ 23.4%	59	2,820	0.5%	+ 32.4%	52	61
65	Fiat Grande Panda	606	0.4%	new	48	2,741	0.5%	new	53	83
66	Renault Espace	601	0.4%	– 47.8%	33	2,690	0.5%	– 11.9%	56	51
67	Dacia Spring	588	0.4%	+ 12.9%	41	2,307	0.4%	– 12.4%	65	62
68	Skoda Kamiq	583	0.4%	– 24.0%	68	2,295	0.4%	– 12.2%	67	56
69	Cupra Formentor	577	0.4%	– 32.3%	76	1,890	0.4%	– 28.2%	77	60
70	DS No 4	566	0.4%	new	82	1,642	0.3%	new	82	151
71	Nissan Juke	562	0.4%	– 42.2%	67	2,163	0.4%	– 36.1%	71	44
72	Xpeng G6	559	0.4%	+ 146.3%	108	1,429	0.3%	+ 144.3%	88	120
73	Audi A1	546	0.4%	+ 12.8%	64	2,305	0.4%	– 28.3%	66	52
74	Renault Rafale	520	0.4%	– 51.5%	57	2,195	0.4%	– 34.2%	68	54
75	MG EHS	509	0.4%	+ 184.4%	73	1,907	0.4%	+ 118.4%	75	76
76	Skoda Enyaq	498	0.4%	+ 21.8%	80	1,454	0.3%	– 21.3%	87	90
77	Hyundai Inster	493	0.4%	+ 365.1%	86	2,071	0.4%	+ 413.9%	72	105
78	Opel Mokka	492	0.4%	– 33.5%	72	2,632	0.5%	+ 3.1%	58	66
79	Renault Twingo IV	489	0.4%	new	47	1,671	0.3%	new	81	344
80	Peugeot 408	461	0.3%	+ 44.5%	71	1,813	0.3%	+ 2.4%	79	87

Source: PFA

This article has been updated with additional photos.

As is the case every year, BSCB had the opportunity to attend the China Auto Show in 2026, this time in Beijing. Firstly the Show is now a dual-venue format, held at the old China Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall) and the adjacent all new Capital International Exhibition Center of China (CIECC). Combined, the two venues feature no less than 17 indoor exhibition halls across a record-breaking 380,000 square meters, or over 50 football fields. I walked 21 km across two days to cover all brands showcased inside the two buildings.

The new Capital International Exhibition Center of China

As per 2024 and 2025, we will cover the Show in three different articles: notable foreigners, notable domestic brands and the 3 most impressive brands overall. We will go through almost 200 pictures and just under 40 brands. Let’s start with studying the notable foreign brands present at the Show, in alphabetical order.

Audi 

Last year Audi made a splash by launching a new China-only brand in cooperation with SAIC: AUDIi in capital letters instead of the four rings. Hopes were high this would revive the German manufacturer, and the E5 sportback was presented. However the E5 EV only accumulated a little more than 10,000 units since its launch in August, peaking at 2,630 sales last month. Only a drop in the ocean of the very competitive Chinese EV market, and as a result Audi sales are down again over Q1 2026. One year on, and with added pressure to succeed, the carmaker presented the E7X electric SUV, featuring the same end-to-end digital dashboard and digital rear view mirrors, and the same LED light both at the front and back as the E5. One more EV is scheduled to start in 2027, a pace of new launches far from what the Chinese are doing.

BMW 

BMW came to the Show all guns blazing with a gigantic stand across two sections of its hall (see picture above). Its main new model is the iX3 SUV, which in my view is one of the most beautiful car designs currently on sale.

Ford

I was very impressed by the large digital tile on the Ford Mondeo Sport’s dashboard. Foreign carmakers are really trying their best to remain competitive. In the case of Ford, it is also badly needed as sales are down -30.9% year-on-year over Q1 2026.

Hyundai

At the Show, Hyundai officially (and belatedly) launched the Ioniq NEV brand in China. It did so with the Ioniq V, a strikingly angular vehicle, as per the brand’s usage of exploring new design frontiers. The dashboard features the now mandatory digital tile expanding to the passenger side.

Jetta

Volkswagen’s attempt at a China-only low cost brand, Jetta, launched in 2019. It has had disappointing results ever since and vegetates at #41 in the brands charts in March with just over 9,000 sales. The issue is it didn’t offer any NEV models. This is all about to change, with the Beijing Auto Show the stage for the brand’s complete relaunch, including a new logo. The only visible vehicle on the stand though is a concept: the Jetta X, a rugged all-electric SUV. The brand says it will launch four new NEV models by 2028, and one sedan was displayed in camouflage.

Lexus

Lexus’s only “news” in China in 2026 is the ES sedan which was unveiled last year at the Shanghai Auto Show. The ES interior is now visible and features a large digital tile extending to the passenger as is now the “norm” in China. The ES is still scheduled to be produced in the brand’s new Shanghai plant in 2027 and will be the first Lexus built in China.

Nissan 

Nissan has rightfully embarked on a series of China-only model EV launches. Last year it showcased the N7 sedan. After a fantastic start (10,148 sales last August), the N7 has fallen to just 587 units in February and 1,382 in March. Nissan has also added the N6 which peaked at 6,822 sales in December but dropped to 2,665 last month. Wildly varying scores make it difficult to call them a success or failure so far. Now the brand is launching the NX8 SUV, proposed in EV and EREV versions, and which reportedly secured 8,423 orders within the first 30 minutes of sales. Very encouraging but let’s see whether the model can sustain strong sales after launch unlike the N6 and N7.

Nissan also showcased the Terrano PHEV concept, prefiguring the return of the legendary nameplate as a capable off-road SUV.

Peugeot

A total surprise for me at the Show is the presence of Peugeot (and Citroen). The French manufacturer, in doldrums sales-wise (975 units in March), presented two new concepts: the Concept 6 shooting brake sedan and Concept 8 SUV. The stand also had the Polygon Concept (an advance look at the future 208) and the Citroen Elo concept. The two new Peugeot concepts prefigure a ‌new ⁠line-up of large sedans and SUVs, produced in China for China, as well as for export from China to ​Peugeot’s overseas ​markets. The first of these new Chinese-built models is expected to launch in 2027. The stand also featured Peugeot’s new visual identity: three horizontal stripes forming the shape of the head- and backlights.

Smart 

Smart, now a Mercedes-Benz/Geely joint venture, has unveiled the #6, its first sedan, which will be confined to China. It is the brand’s largest vehicle to date, and is badly needed as sales figures are dismal (1,717 sales in March). The task will be difficult, and the carmaker has completely changed the way it does interiors with the #6 featuring end-to-end digital tile as is now the norm in vehicles aimed at the Chinese customer.

Toyota Wildlander Wildlander details

Toyota

Toyota outsold (just) Volkswagen in March and has managed to contain its YoY loss over Q1 to -5%, a strong result given the environment foreign brands find themselves in in 2026. The Show was the opportunity for me to discover the new generation RAV4 (and its twin the Wildlander) in the flesh. Note it’s the Wildlander that uses the international look whereas the RAV4 proposes a more squared front. Toyota always opts for conservatism and tried and tested features over extravagant advances. True to form, the RAV4/Wildlander’s interior is solid but its screens are rather small in the current context.

Toyota bZ7

Toyota also presented the bZ7 flagship sedan which secured over 3,100 orders one hour after launch, but was rather shy with it as it only showed one example on its stand. Of note is that Toyota was the busiest foreign brand’s stand during the public days.

I spent the day exploring the Beijing Auto Show with industry superstar Felipe Muñoz

Volkswagen

Volkswagen was moved to the most impressive brands post.

This is all for our coverage of the notable foreign carmakers at the Beijing Auto Show 2026. Next we will talk about the domestic manufacturers.

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