UK November 2016: Fleet sales keep market on track for annual record

Second consecutive month in second place for the Vauxhall Astra (+54%). 

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

Fleet and business sales are keeping the UK market on track towards a new annual record in 2016 despite Brexit, just as private sales continue to drop. Overall, new car sales in the UK are up 2.9% year-on-year in November to 184.101 deliveries and up 2.5% year-to-date to 2.514.764 units, the first time in UK history that the 2.5 million benchmark is passed in November. The detail by channel paints a very different picture however: private sales are down 1.2% to 42.4% market share in November and up just 0.1% to 45.3% share so far in 2016. In contrast, fleet sales are up 5.1% to 53.9% share this month, up 5.3% to 50.8% YTD and business sales are up a whopping 24.3% to 3.7% share vs. down 4.1% to 3.9% YTD.

BMW soars 28% to snap the third position in the UK brands ranking in November. 

Ford continues to dominate the brands ranking, roughly following the market at +2% to 11.9% share, while Vauxhall is in great difficulty at -24% to 8.7% share, threatened this time by BMW surging up 28% year-on-year and two spots on October to third place overall with 15.330 units and 8.3% share. Volkswagen (+11%), Audi (+17%), Mercedes (+15%), Nissan (+17%) and Renault (+12%) follow, all with double-digit gains. Further down, Kia (+18%), Skoda (+24%) and Seat (+35%) also impress while among smaller-volume brands, notice Jaguar (+36%), Smart (+31%), Abarth (+28%) and Infiniti (+160%) all posting spectacular year-on-year improvements.

Model-wise, below the Ford Fiesta once again head-and-shoulders above the competition at 4.6% share, the Vauxhall Astra signs a second consecutive month at a segment-leading #2 thanks to deliveries up a whopping 54% with the new generation. The VW Golf gains one spot on October to #3, the Vauxhall Corsa freefalls 40% to #4, the Ford Focus is down 11% at #5 but the Nissan Qashqai (+28%) and VW Polo (+23%) frankly beat the market. The Mini (#7) and Mercedes C-Class (#10) are back inside the Top 10.

Previous month: UK October 2016: Market up 1.4%, Audi > VW for second time in 3 months

One year ago: UK November 2015: VW down 20%, Vauxhall Mokka breaks into Top 5

Full November 2016 Top 40 best-selling brands and Top 10 models below.