In total 187,396 new passenger cars were sold in France last month which represented a robust year-on-year rise of 9% as this market continues to enjoy a positive start to 2018 and make gains.

FCA capitalised on this upward momentum as its sales rocketed by 27.1% and almost two thousand units year-on-year to 9,037 units to give it a 4.82% share of the French market.

The Italo-American carmaker was the third best performing group in France last month in terms of year-on-year gains, its surge coming behind only two slightly smaller players on this market, Hyundai (+31.2%) and Toyota (+27.4%).

So often the rotten apple in the barrel elsewhere in Europe this year, in France however the Fiat brand is shining during 2018, its sales were up 28.9% to 6,961 units last month to take a 3.71% share of the market.

Alfa Romeo with two key new models in the showrooms now also ended March with plenty of positive spirit, its sales climbed by 6.8% year-on-year to 707 units.

Finally for FCA, the Jeep brand's sales were up 36% to 1,297 units while niche luxury divisions, Ferrari and Maserati, sold a combined 72 cars, which was down over a fifth year-on-year.

After the first four months of the year 744,238 new passenger cars have been sold in France and the market is up 4.4% compared to the same period last year.

Over the first third of the year FCA's sales in France are up by more than three times the overall market's rise, it’s 34,299 units delivered to customers so far during 2018 is four and a half thousand units and 15% up on the same period last year. That gives it a 4.61% share of all sales for the first four months.

The Fiat brand is enjoying a great year in France so far, it's up 12.5% to 26,504 units. Alfa Romeo also has recorded double digit gains and FCA's “sports” brand is up 14.1% to 2,996 units.

Finally, the Jeep brand is up 37% after four months to 4,497 units while Ferrari and Maserati have a combined total of 301 sales, down 6.8% on the same period last year.