Car Sales in France Plunged 15% in December

New-car deliveries in France plummeted 15% last month, as “yellow vest” protests over higher fuel taxes disrupted weekend sales, trade group CCFA reports.

Still, annual volume for 2018 rose 3% to 2.17 million units in France. An extra selling day and gains by France’s two domestic producers buoyed results. Registrations climbed 13% to 699,000 units for PSA Group and advanced 3% to 547,700 vehicles for Renault.

CCFA reports that sagging demand for diesels enabled gasoline-powered vehicles to grab 55% of the French market in 2018. Diesel’s share shrank to 39% from 47% in 2017.