DS Sales Data, Trends & Analysis for the Europe Automotive Market
The DS line of vehicles was introduced by French car maker Citroën in late 2009. At first under the DS subbrand, but the company decided to turn DS into a stand-alone brand to distinguish its premium offerings from the mainstream Citroën vehicles. The name DS (pronounced déesse in French, which means goddess) is intended to remind of the very successful and very advanced 1955-1975 Citroën DS executive car.
The French are aiming for the huge Chinese car market as well with their DS brand, in order to benefit from high demand for European luxury products in that part of the world. The European line-up of the brand consist of 3 models, while the Chinese also get a compact crossover, which unfortunately wasn’t developed for the European market, a big mistake from the product planners at PSA.
The subcompact DS3 was the first model to be launched in late 2009. It’s a sporty 3-door hatchback based on the five-door Citroën C3. A mild facelift in 2015 didn’t help the DS3 reverse its sales slide and better compete with its main rivals Mini hardtop, Audi A1 and Alfa Romeo MiTo. The DS4 is a compact hatchback with hidden rear door handles to make it look like a coupe. Launched in 2010, the DS4 is technically based on the Citroën C4, but was designed with more emphasis on style than practicality. It was also facelifted in 2015 as the brand separated from Citroën. There have been rumors that the next generation may become a four-door coupe with a more sedan-like roofline, much like the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3 Limousine.
The midsized hatchback DS5 is based on the Citroën C5 and was introduced in 2011. It was facelifted in 2015 to give it the new DS “wing” grille and is the first DS model that carries no Citroën logos anymore. In 2017, the brand will finally launch its long-awaited first crossover, the DS7 Crossback, which is the first model of a product offensive by the brand, hoping to reverse its fortunes and become a respected luxury brand.
DS Europe Sales Figures & Recent Highlights
In June 2015, DS celebrated 500,000 cumulative sales in Europe. It’s taken the brand 5.5 years to hit that half-a-million milestone. DS Europe car sales have been increasing in recent years. In 2020, DS Automobiles sold 40,000 cars in Europe. In 2021, DS Automobiles sales in Europe rose to 50,000 cars. And in 2022, DS Automobiles sales in Europe increased further to 60,000 cars.
The DS 4 is a compact hatchback that was launched in Europe in 2021. The DS 4 is the first model from DS Automobiles to be designed and developed entirely in-house. DS Automobiles is a subsidiary of PSA Group. This partnership has allowed DS Automobiles to benefit from PSA Group’s resources and expertise. DS Automobiles focuses on offering luxurious cars. This has helped the company to attract a new generation of buyers in Europe.
DS Automobiles is a relatively new brand, but it has quickly become a major player in the French market. The company is well-positioned for continued growth in the European market.
DS Annual Sales Data and Market Share in Europe
Below we have a table that shows total DS sales volumes for the European automotive market, broken out by year since 2005. This data captures all DS vehicle sales for the entire European automotive market.
| Year | Sales | YOY Change | Marketshare | Marketshare Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 205 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2010 | 53,336 | 25,917.56 | 0.42 | 99.63 |
| 2011 | 97,579 | 82.95 | 0.78 | 45.62 |
| 2012 | 117,374 | 20.29 | 1.04 | 25.09 |
| 2013 | 110,554 | -5.81 | 0.98 | -6.13 |
| 2014 | 85,093 | -23.03 | 0.71 | -38.14 |
| 2015 | 75,163 | -11.67 | 0.58 | -21.13 |
| 2016 | 65,456 | -12.91 | 0.47 | -23.33 |
| 2017 | 45,863 | -29.93 | 0.32 | -49.55 |
| 2018 | 45,251 | -1.33 | 0.32 | -0.05 |
| 2019 | 52,597 | 16.23 | 0.36 | 11.43 |
| 2020 | 43,597 | -17.11 | 0.39 | 8.25 |
| 2021 | 43,970 | 0.86 | 0.40 | 2.09 |
| 2022 | 49,510 | 12.60 | 0.48 | 17.58 |
DS Europe Annual Sales Units & Market Share Chart
Below is a visual representation of DS’s European sales units over time. We have both the DS sales units and the market share in the European market. Click on the items in the legend to see each series by itself.
DS Europe Growth Rate & Market Share Chart
Below is the annual growth rate for the DS brand in Europe, shown against the DS’s marketshare changes in Europe. This gives you a good look into how DS has faired against the other brands in terms of absolute sales and effect on marketshare. Click on the items in the legend to see each series by itself.
The Best-Selling DS Cars & SUVs in Europe
COMING SOON
Car sales statistics are from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.
