UK August 2016: Audi outsells Volkswagen for the first time

The Kia Sportage ranks at a best-ever 8th place overall in August.

* See the Top 40 best-selling brands and Top 10 models by clicking on the title *

New car registrations in the UK are up 3.3% year-on-year in August to 81.640 units, the best result for the month since 2005 and keeping the year-to-date tally at a record 1.680.799, up 2.8% on the same period in 2015. While any year-on-year gain in the wake of the Brexit vote should be celebrated, the positive result in August is solely the work of fleet sales gaining 8% to 43.267 and 53% of the market whereas private sales, some would argue a truer barometer of consumer confidence, are down 0.2% to 37.288 and 45.7% share. Year-to-date, fleet sales are up 5% to 859.874 and 51.2% share (up from 50.2% a year ago) but private sales are up just 1% to 759.279 and 45.2% (down from 46% a year ago). The remainder of the sales are accounted for by business purchases.

For the first time in UK history, Audi manages to outsell VW, with BMW just behind.

August new car registrations – 2000 to 2016. Source: SMMT

Ford remains the most popular marque in the UK despite dropping 2% to 11.703 and 14.3% share, keeping Vauxhall at a fair distance, down 4% to 8.579 and 10.5%. Audi surges 6% to 6.195 sales and 7.6% share, spectacularly outselling its mass-market stablemate Volkswagen, itself crumbling down 25% to just 5.694 deliveries for a 7% share. According to BSCB calculations, this is the first time Audi ever outsells Volkswagen in the UK. This way, Audi passes BMW year-to-date to reclaim the #1 luxury title with 107.298 units so far vs. 106.061, but Mercedes – up 17% in August – lurks not far behind at 104.904. Boosted by the tremendous success of the new Sportage (see further down), Kia shoots up 81% to 7th place, becoming the best-selling Asian brand in the UK above local producer Nissan (+11%). Further down, Renault (+43%), Seat (+35%), Land Rover (+45%), Dacia (+97%), Jeep (+76%), Infiniti (+618%), MG (+130%) and Lotus (+500%) all post spectacular year-on-year gains.

The Ford Kuga is in runout mode just as a facelifted version (pictured) is about to launch.

Over in the models ranking, both market leaders the Ford Fiesta (-4%) and Focus (-6%) lose ground, caught up by the Vauxhall Corsa (+11%) and Astra (+20%) whereas the VW Golf (-24%) and Polo (-8%) register sharp declines. The Vauxall Mokka (+1%) is the most popular SUV in the country like a year ago. But the best performer in the Top 10 is once again the Kia Sportage, up a whopping 112% year-on-year thanks to the new model to shoot up to a best-ever 8th position overall. It’s the third time the Sportage manages a UK Top 10 ranking this year – and ever – after last February and April when it ranked #9 each time. The record of UK Top 10 appearances by a Korean model is held by the Hyundai i10: six times between July 2009 and December 2011, peaking at #3 in August 2009. Finally, the Ford Kuga makes its 2nd ever incursion inside the UK Top 10, lifting its best-ever ranking to #9 (it ranked #10 in August 2015).

Previous post: UK July 2016: Discover the Top 130 models (BSCB Exclusive)

Previous month: UK July 2016: Vauxhall Astra and Mercedes A-Class shoot up

One year ago: UK August 2015: Vauxhall Mokka up, Ford Kuga breaks into Top 10

Full August 2016 Top 40 brands and Top 10 models below.