Car sales in France rose 2.3 percent in July from the same period a year earlier, the French car sales federation CCFA said Monday.

A total of 147,132 new cars were sold in July in France, up from 143,759 units a year ago, the federation said in its monthly report.

By the end of July, sales of French brands were down by 1.6 percent pulled down by poor performance by Renault.

Renault, France's second largest auto manufacturer, sold 29,869 new cars, down 8.5 percent year on year.

PSA Peugeot Citroen group, France's top car maker, saw its sales growing by 3.6 percent after registering 47,122 units, according to the CCFA statement.

French clients bought 70,058 foreign cars, up by 7 percent.