French Commercial Vehicle Market Finishes 2021 with 7% Increase on 2020 Levels

With 38,682 light commercial vehicle (under 5.1 tonnes) registrations for December, the market continues its decline with a 10% drop, compared to December 2020, in figures from Comité des Constructeurs Français d'Automobiles, the Automotive Manufacturers Association in France. After a series of early year-on-year increases the market saw the year-to-date lead that was accumulated early in 2021 slowly chipped away at. However, despite the lost ground at the end of the year, the market for 2021 has ended 7.52% against 2020, in figures that will no doubt relieve industry insiders.

2021 Finishes with Minor Increase on 2020 Levels

External factors could not be kept at bay for the French commercial vehicle market, with drop upon drop eating away at a healthier first six months for the industry. For example, December’s 38,652 registrations are far weaker than December 2020’s 43,260, with 2021's fourth quarter paling compared to a weakened – but rejuvenated – fourth quarter for 2020.

Although semiconductor shortages continued to deplete industry confidence, the market still managed to finish with 432,622 registrations, against 402,382 from the year before. Stellantis was the far-and-away winner with 188,659 registrations, making up a colossal 43% share of the market, with the Renault Group's 125,936 registrations coming in a healthy second, making for a dominant 29% of the market.

Industry insiders can take a measure of comfort from the market’s measured return, although they will no doubt hope that the market will see more external stability to increase consumer confidence and boost sales to coincide more with pre-pandemic levels.