PARIS — New-car sales in France fell by 89 percent to 20,997 in April, according to industry group CCFA, with the country under coronavirus lockdown for the full month and showrooms closed.
The French market is down 48 percent to 385,676 over the first four months with total registrations. Registrations declined by 72 percent in March after dealerships closed on March 16.
Showrooms will be able to reopen on May 11, subject to local restrictions.
Some cars were still delivered to customers in April, especially toward the end of the month.
Analytics company AAA Data said that deliveries fell to less than 300 a day in the middle of the month but picked up to more than 1,000 a day after April 20. Some automakers are offering home delivery and said it would still be an option after coronavirus lockdowns are lifted.
The French market fared better than Italy, which is expected to be down 98 percent for April.
French automakers, with an overall decline of 84 percent for the month, fared better than foreign brands, which lost 95 percent of sales. Both PSA Group and Renault Group lost 84 percent.
PSA’s upscale brand DS lost the smallest percentage of sales, down 78 percent for the month. The automaker's German brand, Opel, fell 86 percent, Peugeot was down 85 percent and Citroen sales dropped by 84 percent.
Renault registrations were down 81 percent, but with 5,911 registrations it was the best-selling brand by volume and had a 28 percent market share. Dacia, Renault’s budget brand, was down 90 percent.
Every foreign automaker lost more than 90 percent of sales.
Mercedes-Benz sales fell by 98 percent, as did Nissan. Toyota and Hyundai were down 97 percent. Kia sales fell by 96 percent.
Among Volkswagen Group, Seat sales were down 97 percent; VW brand and Audi registrations fell 96 percent and Skoda was down 91 percent.
Fiat Chrysler's Jeep brand saw sales drop by 95 percent and Fiat was down each fell 94 percent.
BMW brand was down 94 percent, and Ford 91 percent.
The super-rich refrained from buying ultraluxury sedans and expensive sports cars during April. Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini and Maserati sold no vehicles.
- Download PDF of French sales in April by automaker and brand here.
Light-commercial vehicle sales were down 84 percent for the month, CCFA said
