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UK December 2015: Mini on podium in record month

Mini Cooper UK December 2015The Mini hatch is the third best-selling nameplate in the UK this month.

* Now updated with the Top 130 models and Top 40 brands *

The UK market ends 2015 with a bang with sales up 8.5% year-on-year to the highest December score on record at 180.077 registrations. This brings the Full Year 2015 figures to an all-time record of 2.63 million units, which we will analyse shortly in more detail in a separate post. An important element to keep in mind is that December is heavily biased by year-end incentive, especially in a market where every second car sales is a fleet sale. Ford (+13%) outpaces the market to reach 12.9% share above Vauxhall at 11.6% (-10%). BMW delivers a stunning 38% year-on-year gain lifting it to third place overall with 9.5% share, over three percentage points above its annual share of 6.3%. BMW places the 3 Series at #8 and the 1 Series at #9. After sinking by 20% in October, Volkswagen already stabilises this month but drops to 4th. Peugeot (+20%), Mazda (+30%), Volvo (+31%), Dacia (+33%), Land Rover (+36%) and Jaguar (+42%) also shine.

Austin Mini UK 1982The last time a Mini appeared on the UK podium, it still looked like this…

In the models ranking, the Ford Fiesta posts an impressive 20% year-on-year gain in pole position to 8.977 sales, a very comfortable distance above the Vauxhall Corsa, down 14% on a particularly strong December 2014 score to 3.8%. But the main event in December in the UK is the landing on the podium of the Mini with 5.371 sales and 3% share. This is the highest ranking ever reached by the Mini “at home” in the UK since the relaunch of the legendary nameplate 16 years ago, with its previous best being #4 in December 2010 and December 2014. More impressive, the last time the Mini (then Austin Mini) ranked within the UK podium is likely to be 1980, a year the diminutive car finished at #4 before crumbling 53% to #10 in 1981, hit by cannibalisation from the Austin Metro. The last time a Mini was on the annual UK podium was in 1979 (#3).

BMW X1 UK December 2015The BMW X1 breaks into the UK Top 50 in December.

Outside the familiar Top 10, the VW Passat shoots up 20 spots on last month to #15, the BMW 4 Series down the same to #17, the BMW 2 Series is up 9 to #19 and the 5 Series up 18 to #23 while the X1 is up a mammoth 74 ranks to #42, the Renault Kadjar stabilises at #60 and the Mini Clubman is up 20 to #71.

Previous post: UK November 2015: Now with Top 140 models (BSCB Exclusive)

Previous month: UK November 2015: VW down 20%, Vauxhall Mokka breaks into Top 5

One year ago: UK December 2014: Vauxhall Corsa ends 21-month Fiesta reign

Full December 2015 Top 130 models and Top 40 bands Ranking Tables below.

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