Car Fule

The French car manufacturers have mostly maintained assembly activities in their historical production regions. Alpine is thus present in Normandy, Peugeot in Franche-Comté and Renault in the north. Citroën, DS and Peugeot also produce in Brittany, while Renault produces in Ile-de-France and has several parts factories in France. Obviously, many French models are not “Made in France”. This is all the more true when we look at the ranking of the 10 best-selling models in France in 2022.

1 – Peugeot 208 – Trnava (Slovakia)

The star of 2022 sales in France is Peugeot’s 208 city car. It is, unlike its older generations, no longer produced in Poissy (78) but in Slovakia. In the Trnava factory alongside the Citroën C3.

2 – Dacia Sandero – Pitesti (Romania)

The second best seller in this 2022 ranking is a Franco-Romanian, the Dacia Sandero. It retains its main production center in its mother country Romania, in the huge Pitesti factory.

3 – Renault Clio – Novo Mesto (Slovenia) and Bursa (Turkey)

Gone are the days when the Clio was still produced in Flins alongside the Nissan Micra. The one that closes this Top 3 is assembled in Slovenia at Novo Mesto. Like the Twingo for that matter. Part of its production also leaves the chains of Bursa in Turkey, assembled locally by Oyak.

4 – Citroën C3 – Trnava (Slovakia)

Technical sister of the 208, the Citroën C3 is also naturally produced on its same lines, in Trnava in Slovakia. It’s over for Poissy, or even Aulnay-sous-Bois! Trnava is even often nicknamed the “killer of Aulnay”.

5 – Peugeot 2008 – Vigo (Spain)

Peugeot’s flagship crossover, the 3008, is assembled in the large Vigo port plant in Spain. It is from there that several Stellantis utilities also come out. For the record, our inveterate French star, the Citroën C15, was also assembled there.

Read also :

Renault EletriCity: the brand launches its pole dedicated to electric vehicles

DS 9 E-Tense 225 test: good deal or future flop?

Citroën C5 X test: the new queen of comfort?

6 – Renault Captur – Valladolid (Spain)

Its direct rival at Renault, the Captur, is also assembled in Spain, in the city of Valladolid. The country can indeed count on lower production costs than in France or Germany.

7 – Peugeot 308 – Mulhouse (France)

We come to the first model in this ranking to be actually assembled in France. The Peugeot 308 leaves its historic lands of Franche-Comté, assembled in Mulhouse.

8 – Peugeot 3008 – Sochaud (France)

Its derivative 3008 is also assembled in France, and also in Franche-Comté, but in Sochaux. Another major factory for Peugeot!

9 – Dacia Duster – Pitesti (Romania)

The Franco-Romanian Dacia Duster SUV is assembled like the Sandero in the gigantic Pitesti factory, in its homeland.

10 – Renault Arkana – Busan (South Korea)

Not only is the Arkana not assembled in France, but neither is it in Europe! It leaves the lines of the RMK factory (Renault Motors Korea, ex-Renault-Samsung Motor) in Busan, South Korea.