In any case, it is beginning to look like a recovery. After a 0.5% drop in unemployment in January (a statistical anomaly, admittedly, but still welcome), a construction and housing sector whose indicators are turning positive and a rise in household consumption, another economic indicator is also picking up speed: new car registrations with French brands are performing well.
In January, the growth rate was 5.9%. For February, the CCFA reports a 4.1% increase in new car registrations: this marks the beginning of what one could call a trend.
Certainly, the CCFA advises caution; after all, the automotive market only grew by 0.3% last year, following much more optimistic forecasts, and it’s not time to declare victory just yet. Moreover, the organization explains that the sustained growth is largely due to certain types of vehicles whose popularity is driving the market upward.
However, in the current context marked by the gloom of a crisis that has lasted for years, it is hard to be too picky and not take the news as it comes. Even if French manufacturers have progressed less than their foreign counterparts.
Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroรซn, however, posted a 1.8% increase in new car registrations in February. Renault stands out with an 11.7% growth, but Dacia suffers a significant drop of 27.2%. The Sandero is flat. Peugeot reports a 5.3% increase thanks to the positive reception of the 308; the other brands in the group are also progressing (3.2% for DS, 2.8% for Citroรซn).
Foreign manufacturers are doing much better, with a 7% increase in the month, driven particularly by Ford (+34.7%) and BMW, which reports +30.6%.
