The French automotive market: Stellantis significantly down, Volkswagen returns to growth

Ah, the French automobile market in October 2024, a true open-air theater where the actors play diametrically opposed parts. While one might have expected a triumphant parade of tricolor flagships, we are instead witnessing a descent into hell for Stellantis, while Volkswagen, the resident grump, makes a comeback that speaks volumes about the paradoxes of the automobile business. Between plummeting figures and unexpected gains, this is enough to liven up conversations in pubs as well as parking lots.

Stellantis: a storm in a teacup or the predicted tempest in the French auto market

If you thought that Stellantis would dominate the market with the assurance of a quiet giant, think again. In October 2024, this Franco-Italian-American titan suffered a staggering plunge of 20.47% in its registrations, nearly double the overall decline of the French market, which stands at a modest 11.06%. One could say it’s a cold shower after the merger. All the weak brands in the group are showing signs of a significant downturn: Citroën slides by 35.93% (a dive worthy of a clumsy duck), DS loses 16.70% of its clientele, and Opel is crushed with a spectacular decline of 37.09%. The only mitigated blow: Peugeot limits the damage with "only" 8.66% decline, a respectable performance compared to the others. A true Greek tragedy worthy of a poorly woven script.

Fortunately, a new hope emerges on the horizon: a change in management has just occurred at the heart of the European group, heralding the first step of a new strategic strategy — yes, the oxen sometimes drag their plough even in the automobile industry. It will be exciting to see if this rejuvenation will allow Stellantis to regain ground, at least in the next two months. Given the recent results, it will be more of a laborious sprint than a legendary marathon. To dive a little deeper into the twists and turns of the sector, one can also take a look at the impact of iconic models from the past on automotive memory.

Volkswagen: the grasshopper becomes an ant thanks to clever repositioning

In the opposite corner, Volkswagen makes a big move, or rather restarts its engine after a pause. With an increase of 10.86% in its registrations, the robust German brand returns to growth at a speed that would put a Formula 1 car to shame on a straightaway. Admittedly, Audi is looking gloomy with a drop of 10.54%, but the rest of the tribe performs remarkably: Cupra climbs by 9.10%, Seat soars to 13.26%, Skoda literally explodes with a rise of 23.97%, and the brand Volkswagen itself boasts an honorable 15.56%.

So, what is the secret of this metamorphosis? The group has armed itself with a dazzling commercial strategy, skillfully playing on the price repositioning of its models, whether electric or thermal. A precise tactical move that has managed to restore confidence among distributors and customers in France. An example of responsiveness that few teams can boast, especially knowing that Volkswagen also has to juggle heavy restructuring and tense discussions in Germany. To better understand the behind-the-scenes of this recovery, there’s nothing like a little dive into the struggle of the heavyweights of the European sector, as detailed here: the Renault-Volkswagen-Skoda market.

This tableau shows that the German avatar can still turn its fate around, even in the heart of a French market wracked by economic and social upheavals.

Renault and the others: the soft belly more or less shaken of the French market

Renault, this national pillar, shows a loss in line with the market, a moderate decline of 11.53% which we hope will not turn into a gaping abyss. A striking paradox, Dacia, synonymous with simplicity and value for money, reports a drop of 13.63%. The diamond brand fares a little better with only 10.42% decline. Nothing very cheerful, but we are far from disaster.

In this dance of mixed successes, some foreign brands are turning up their noses at the gloom: BMW and Toyota almost steal the show. BMW records a very slight drop in its Mini brand — a falling out of 42.25% — but continues to assert itself with a nice growth of 20.23% across all its models. Toyota, on the other hand, is pulling off a win thanks to a growing appetite for its self-recharging hybrids, with an impressive increase of 19.40%. The enthusiasm for hybrids is very real, a phenomenon to watch in the hybrid electric market.

In contrast, other brands are plummeting without appeal: Ford (-25.60%), Nissan plunging by 41.89%, Mercedes-Benz tumbling by 23.67%. Hyundai and Kia show declines of 13.73% and 17.68%, while Tesla collapses to a slightly less glorious 46.63%, victim of a severe comparison with the previous year, proof that even the American giant is not immune to a downturn in Europe.Tesla's market in Europe is also a story with variable geometry.

Source: www.auto-infos.fr

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