The automotive market declined in France – Le Figaro

The new car registrations fell by 9.6% on the French market in July. PSA, the leading French manufacturer, was down 17.4%. Daimler and BMW derive their game.

The signals are not good. After a year and a half of continuous rise, the French car market recorded a decline in registrations in July, confirming the expected slowdown in the second half. Automakers have been attacked on a negative note: registrations of new passenger cars fell by 9.6% in July to 132,999, according to figures released Monday by the French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA).

The sales thus accuse a decline due mainly to the number of working days – 20 last month against 22 in July 2015, the Committee stresses. But even data “working day adjusted” market no longer rising (-0.6%). A first since December 2014. “It’s a setback compared to the good momentum that is recorded for several quarters, observes Flavien Neuvy, president of the Cetelem Observatory automobile.Cela reflects uncertainties macroeconomic level “, also expressed by the zero growth of the French economy in the second quarter, he added. “It’s a little disappointing, but the first six months were rather a divine surprise”, said for his part Jean-François Belorgey, sector specialist in the firm EY, guessing “a phenomenon of wait because of attacks which make buyers a bit chilly. “

” the Paris motor Show and the launch of new models should boost market punctually sawtooth “

the deceleration already interview in June, does not affect the annual forecast of CCFA, raised early July from + 2% to + 5%. “We know that the second half will be worse than the first,” but the French market is still “back to its cruising speed before the 2008 crisis, around 2 million vehicles per year,” says Flavien Neuvy. By the end of the year, the Paris Motor Show in October in Paris and launch of new models should boost market punctually sawtooth predicted it.

The French groups do not wear good performance. It is rather the hammer for the first French manufacturer PSA, whose registrations plunged 17.4% in July. Blame it on “a political price which is very attached Carlos Tavares,” the group’s CEO, who therefore “fall more than others”, decrypts Jean-François Belorgey EY firm. PSA “is less volume in the race than in the past and in its sales profitability logic”, which is reflected on its interim results, also analyzes Flavien Neuvy. The owner of Peugeot, Citroën and DS also faces the loss of speed of its “renewal waiting in line,” but that should revitalize several launches. Rather, the runner Renault “riding an attractive range that works well,” according to Jean-François Belorgey. The diamond group has limited the damage (-4.2%), despite the debacle of its partner Nissan (-23.1%).

However, the number three Volkswagen is in full collapse (-17.3%). “It’s a real break in the dynamics of the brand” German who “had not experienced such a negative month for a long time,” says the president of the Observatoire Cetelem. The firm of Wolfsburg, which “is losing market share in a year” in France, continues to pay its fixing scandal diesel engines.

In contrast, his fellow BMW (+ 10.3 %) and Daimler (+ 5.9%) derive their game. “Premium brands are doing well, it shows that buyers are there and the market is healthy,” says Flavien Neuvy. Other manufacturers, Hyundai (+ 3.7%) is doing better than Fiat-Chrysler (-1.8%), General Motors (-6.4%), Toyota (-6.5%), Ford (-8%) and Volvo (-13.5%).