UK February 2017: Golf pushes Volkswagen to #2 YTD, stable market

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

The UK new car market continues to defy the Brexit odds with a stable February score at -0.3% year-on-year to 83.115 units. This leads to a year-to-date tally of 257.679 units, still up 1.8% on the record pace established in 2016. Once again fleet sales stir the market up at -3.3% to 45.699 whereas private sales are down 4.4% to 36.018 and business sales down 5.3% to 1.398. Diesel is down 5.9% to 115.759, petrol up 7.9% to 131.333 ad alternative fuel vehicles up 27.7% to a still reserved 10.587 units and 4.1% share vs. 3.3% a year ago.

Source: SMMT

Brand-wise, Ford still reigns supreme in spite of a 14% drop to 9.909 units and 11.9% share vs. 12.7% year-to-date. Volkswagen climbs back up to 2nd place thanks to deliveries up 9% to 7.236 and 8.8%, in the meantime overtaking Vauxhall (-20%) both this month and, historically, year-to-date at 20.293 sales vs. 20.169. Mercedes (+17%) drops to spots on a freak January score to #5, Kia (+12%), Skoda (+12%), Toyota (+25%) and Hyundai (+12%) all fare very well inside the Top 12 while below, let’s notice Mini (+19%), Suzuki (+26%), Land Rover (+39%) and Infiniti (+337%) pushing forward whereas Mazda (-18%), Fiat (+26%), Citroen (-30%), Mitsubishi (-50%) and DS (-54%) all crumble apart.

The Ford Fiesta is down 5% but stays Nb.1 in the UK. 

Model-wise, the Ford Fiesta remains the best-seller in the country despite a 5% year-on-year drop to 4.282 units. It distances the VW Golf lodging another outstanding score at +15% to 2.949 and the Vauxhall Astra doing even better at +33% to 2.170 registrations. The Ford Focus (-17%), Nissan Qashqai (-26%) and Vauxhall Corsa (-43%)  all struggle year-on-year but the Mercedes C-Class is up to #6 and the BMW 3 Series is back inside the Top 10 for the first time since last October.

Previous month: UK January 2017: Mercedes C-Class soars 40% to record 4th place

One year ago: UK February 2016: Kia Sportage breaks into Top 10 for the first time

Full February 2017 Top 10 models and Top 40 brands below.