Largers were only 1.6 million, while 6 million used vehicles changed owner.
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The year 2021 will not have been brightening than the previous one for a very depressed French automotive market. For the second year in a row, sales of new cars capped at the same level, historically low, according to the data published on Saturday 1 January by the automotive platform, which brings together manufacturers, equipment manufacturers and subcontractors. A total of 1,659 million new vehicles were put into circulation (+ 0.54%), compared to $ 1.650 million in 2020 and 2.214 million a year earlier.
In 2020, it is the closure of factories and concessions for more than two months in the spring that had resulted in a collapse of 25.5% registrations compared to 2019. Nothing in 2021, where the vigorous rebounds growth (about 7%) did not benefit from the sector. Despite the persistence of the health crisis, the demand of consumers is there, but many brands are unable to satisfy it totally, a situation deemed unpublished by the profession.
Mounting chains are slowing down or even stopped due to the semiconductor shortage, which has been amplified during the year and will not normalize before the second half of 2022. The builders preferred to reserve these electronic chips to their upscale, more profitable models, which allowed them to not degrade their margins. Difficulties also appeared on the supply of steel and plastic.
In addition, the price factor weighs on sales. They increased an average of 7,000 euros between 2010 and 2020, according to Argus, and individuals are increasingly hesitant before the purchase of a new vehicle, acquired on average at the age of 55.3 years . Added to this is an increasing embarrassment – and therefore of waitition – the choice to be made between thermal engine, hybrid or electric. After a satisfactory start of the year, the situation deteriorated in June and 2021 was completed on a tumble (- 15.1% in December for one year).
Inventories are at most Low
Stellantis, born of the fusion of PSA (Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel) and FCA (Fiat, Jeep, Alfa Romeo …), remains at first place on the whole of 2021 with 33.8% of the market (excluding utilités). With registrations down 3.7%, he lost 1.5 points of market share. Renault, which now put more on the price than on volumes, has seen them fall by 4.1%, with 23.9% of the French market (- 1.1 point). The balance sheet is better for the first foreign group, Volkswagen (+ 7.9%), which wins 0.9 points of market share (13.3%) and the Korean Hyundai. On the other hand, Ford, Nissan and Opel fall.
Fuel models account for 40% of registrations and 21% diesel, while the share of hybrids rises to 25.8% (+ 11 points) and that of electric 9.8% (+ 3.1 points ), in particular drawn by Tesla. The sedans represent only 49% of the market, SUVs and all-terrain 43%.
The occasional sector benefited from the new crisis: 6 million vehicles, often over five, have changed owner (+ 8%). At dealers, many to consider job cuts in the first quarter, stocks are at the lowest. And it is now necessary to count six months or even eight, to hope to get behind the wheel of its new car.