UK Full Year 2014: Market up 9% to highest level in a decade
The A3 is the first-ever Audi to rank inside the annual UK Top 10 (#8).
* See the Top 20 best-selling models and Top 45 brands by clicking on the title *
Thanks to unfailing growth throughout the year, the UK new car market jumps by a fantastic 9% year-on-year in 2014 to 2,476,435 registrations, the biggest annual tally in a decade and the 4th largest of all time: only 2002, 2003 and 2004 saw more cars registered in the history of automobile in the UK, which confirms its 2nd place in the European Union below Germany and far above France. Even more satisfying, this excellent performance has a lot to do with private sales, outperforming the market at +10% to 1.179.499 and 47.6% share. Brand-wise, the two leaders Ford and Vauxhall lost market share to 13.2% and 10.9% respectively, with Volkswagen virtually stable in third position at 8.7%.
First annual Top 10 ranking for the Nissan Juke in the UK…
The bigger gains are to be found below: Audi reinforced its domination of the premium segment, delivering mass brand-like market shares at 6.4%, up 12% to 158,987. 2014 marks the first ever year that an Audi nameplate breaks into the annual Top 10: the A3 is up a flamboyant 42% to a record #8 and 45,581 units. BMW froze its market share at a very strong 6% ahead of Nissan up 17% to 5.6% and placing two locally-produced models inside the annual UK Top 10 for the first time in history: the Qashqai at #6 and the Juke breaking into the Top 10 for the first time, up 5% to #10 and 39,263 sales. Both locals hit a best-ever #5 this year: the Qashqai in July and the Juke in October, when Nissan had two models inside the Top 6.
Renault wins the title of ‘most improved’ in the Top 20: +44%.
Mercedes edges up to 5% share thanks to sales up 14%, but the best-performing manufacturer in the Top 20 is Renault now enjoying a true revival with sales up 44% to #15 and 66,334 units, even outperforming Dacia (+39%). Case in point: the Clio is back inside the Top 20 at #19. Notice also Seat up 18%, Volvo up 26%, Mitsubishi up 75%, Lexus up 28% and MG up… 362% to a still confidential 2,326 units and 0.1% share. The days of the MG B are still soooo far away. The Ford Fiesta tops the models sales charts for the 11th time (the first one was in 1990) and the 6th consecutive year but sees its market share slip slightly to 5.3% at 131,254 units sold.
…and for the Fiat 500 as well, 7 years after launch!
The podium is unchanged on 2013 with the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Corsa following while the VW Golf reclaims the best-ever 4th spot it held in 2011, this time outselling the Vauxhall Astra by a comfortable 14,000 units. The Fiat 500 is the third nameplate to earn its very first annual Top 10 ranking in 2014 thanks to sales up an incredible 16% for its 7th year of activity. These new entrants dislodge the BMW 3 Series (#11), 1 Series (#12) and Peugeot 208 tumbling down 16% to #15. Lukewarm in 2013 at #54, the Vauxhall Mokka gets sparked into action this year with sales up a huge 152% to reach #13.
Previous post: UK December 2014: Vauxhall Corsa ends 21-month Fiesta reign
One year ago: UK Full Year 2013: Ford Fiesta marks 10 years at #1
Two years ago: UK Full Year 2012: Nissan Qashqai hits highest ever ranking for a Japanese model
Full Year 2014 Top 20 models and Top 45 brands vs. Full 2013 rankings below.
