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

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Against all expectations given widespread price rises due to Brexit, the UK new car market starts 2017 in positive with 2.9% year-on-year gain to 174.564 registrations. Even more surprising: private sales lead the growth at +5% to 76.729 and 44% share vs. 43.1% a year ago, fleet sales are up just 1.4% to 91.181 and 52.2% share vs. 53% in January 2016 and business registrations are down 1% to 6.654. Leader Ford trails the market but still improves at +3% to 22.778 sales, ahead of Vauxhall struggling at -9% to 13.870 and Mercedes snapping at its heels at 13.048 (+11%). Volkswagen is also catching up at +8% to 12.967. Further down, Kia has a stunning month, slicing its December ranking in two to #8 with deliveries up 51% year-on-year to 7.661. Land Rover (+18%), Jaguar (+20%), Seat (+24%), Bentley (+36%), Suzuki (+60%), Maserati (+101%) and Aston Martin (+174%) stand out with impressive gains, whereas Peugeot (-19%), Lexus (-20%), Citroen (-29%), Mazda (-34%), MG (-35%) and DS (-39%) all fall flat.

UK January registrations – 2001 to 2017:

Model-wise, the Ford Fiesta holds onto the top spot with a 2% gain ahead of the VW Golf surging 43% and the Ford Focus up 12%. Exceptional performance from the Mercedes C-Class up to a highest-ever 4th place overall thanks to deliveries up 40% on a year ago to 4.230 units. The C-Class’s previous UK best was #6 over four years ago, back in September 2012. The Nissan Juke (+14%) is up two spots on December to #6, enjoying a second consecutive month above its stablemate the Qashqai (#8) and its best monthly ranking since January 2016 when it was also #6 – its personal best still standing at #5 back in October 2014. Finally, at #10 the Kia Sportage is back inside the Top 10 for the 5th time in the past 12 months after last February (#9), April (#9), August (#8) and October (#10), now looking to become a constant fixture among UK’s favourites.

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Previous month: UK December 2016: Astra and C-Class shine in market down 1%

One year ago: UK January 2016: Nissan Qashqai surges to record-breaking 2nd place

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