French auto market ends second successive year with December profit

French auto sales increased 5.8 percent in December, as per market information released on Sunday, closing a 2nd successive year of strong development in Europe’s third-biggest automobile market.

Registrations increased to 194,388 cars in December from 183,720 a year previously, the CCFA industry association stated. The full-year overall topped 2 million, a 5.1 percent boost from 2015.

Renault gained on rivals in its domestic market in 2016, with an 8 percent sales boost led by its no-frills Dacia brand name. Competing PSA, maker of Peugeot, Citroen and DS vehicles, lost market share as purchases stagnated.

In December, both French automakers underperformed the industry growth, with Renault registrations boosting a modest 0.6 percent and PSA down 3.5 percent.

The French automobile market, which ranks behind Germany and Britain by volume, continues to heal since 2015, when automobile sales increased 6.8 percent. That followed 4 straight years of decrease and a practically flat 2014.

Delivery van registrations increased 3.2 percent in December and 8.1 percent during the year, the CCFA likewise stated. Light auto sales, which included vans and automobiles, increased 5.6 percent in 2016.