UK October 2016: Market up 1.4%, Audi > VW for 2nd time in 3 months

Audi outsells Volkswagen for the 2nd time ever and the A3 ranks at a record #5,

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

The UK new car market manages to nudge a 1.4% year-on-year increase in October to 180.168 units, meaning the year-to-date tally is still breaking records at +2.5% to 2.330.663 deliveries after ten months. Once again fleet sales do the heavy lifting this month with a 4.2% gain to 96.440 and 53.5% share vs. 50.6% YTD, whereas private sales are down 1.1% to 77.821 and 43.2% vs. 45.5% and business sales are down 7.8% to 5.907.

The Vauxhall Astra dominates its segment in October. 

Ford drops 3% but remains the most popular brand at 11.9% share ahead of Vauxhall at 8.3% (-6%). For the second time in the past three months, Audi (+11%) outsells mass market stablemate Volkswagen (+0.4%) with 14.659 units and 8.1% share vs. 14.023 and 7.8%. BMW is not far behind at 13.541 and 7.5% (-3%). Nissan (+13%), Mercedes (+14%) and Kia (+15%) shine inside the Top 10 while just outside, Skoda (+10%), Mini (+17%), Seat (+51%), Jaguar (+55%), Dacia (+63%), Smart (+23%) and MG (+62%) stand out.

First Top 10 ranking since January for the Nissan Juke. 

Model-wise, below the Ford Fiesta in the lead by far despite a 9% drop, the Vauxhall Astra shoots up 78% to 2nd place with 4.985 sales, the first time it ranks that high in the UK since August 2013. The Astra outsells all its competitors in the compact segment this month, including its archenemy the VW Golf (#4). The Nissan Qashqai for its part is up two spots on September and 9% on October 2015 to #3, its first podium ranking since last February. The Audi A3 teases its stablemate the VW Golf at 4.281 sales vs. 4.520 in 5th place which is an all-time high ranking for the compact Audi, also hit in April 2014. The Nissan Juke is back in the Top 10 for the first time since last January and the Kia Sportage snaps its 4th ever Top 10 ranking after last February, April and August.

Previous month: UK September 2016: Fleet sales edge market up 1.6% despite Brexit

One year ago:UK October 2015: First year-on-year decline in record 43 months

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