Car sales in France continued to recover in March with domestic automakers PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault both showing strong gains as mid market brands bounced back.
According to Reuters, industry group CCFA raised its 2015 forecast after monthly registrations rose 9.3% to 196,572 cars. Corrected for this year’s additional sales day, the year on year gain was a more modest 4.3% but still stronger than February’s.
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“France is on trend to catch up with the European market growth rate,” CCFA chief Patrick Blain said.
CCFA raised its market forecast from “stable” to a 2% gain this year, close to many industry predictions for Europe as a whole.
After a slow 2014, sales picked up in January, leading to a 6.9% expansion for the French market in the first quarter, with mid market brands recovering from deep declines.
PSA Peugeot Citroen booked a 7.9% sales increase, led by Peugeot’s 12% rise. Renault’s 13% gain more than made up for a 10% drop at low cost Dacia, and group registrations were up 8.1%.
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By GlobalDataFord posted a 19% rise in March, with Toyota up 18% and Fiat Chrysler climbing 12%. Volkswagen’s sales rose only 1.7%.
Delivery van registrations also rose nearly 11% in March taking the overall gain in French light vehicle sales to 9.5%, Reuters said.
