UK April 2021: Toyota (+30.1%), Peugeot (+19.1%) shine in market down -12.1% on two years ago

Toyota’s UK sakes are up 30.1% on April 2019.

With showrooms reopening on April 12, a successful vaccination campaign, business and consumer morale is up in the UK and the new car market concurs. At 141.583, sales are up 3176.6% on a completely locked-down April 2020 but more significantly down “just” -12.9% on the April decade average and down -12.1% on April 2019. Last month in March, these figures were -36.9% vs. decade average and -38% vs. 2 years ago in March, showing a clear improvement this month. The year-to-date tally is now up 16.2% to 567.108 units but down -34.2% on the same period in 2019. SMMT has revised its 2021 forecast from 1.83 to 1.86 million which would be a 13.9% uptick. Monthly evolutions vs. April 2020 are meaningless, so compared with April 2019, fleet sales are down -14.2% to 77.241 and 54.6% share vs. 55.9% two years ago, private sales resist better at -8.7% to 61.935 and 43.7% share vs. 42.1% and business sales drop -25.7% to 2.407 and 1.7% share vs. 2% in April 2019. So far in 2021, fleet sales are up 23.9% year-on-year to 308.913 and 54.5% share vs. 51.1% over the same period in 2020, private sales are up 8.4% to 248.117 and 43.8% share vs. 46.9% and business sales up 4.6% to 10.078 and 1.8% share vs. 2% in 2020. Year-to-date diesel sales are down -32.3% to 62.586 and 11% vs. 19% in 2020, with Petrol off -4.5% to 280.385 and 49.4% vs. 60.2%, HEV up 53% to 43.397 and 7.7% share vs. 5.8% in 2020, BEV up 108.5% to 40.931 and 7.2% share vs. 4% and PHEV up 161.7% to 36.213 and 6.4% share vs. 2.8% in 2020.

UK April sales 2005-2021. Source: SMMT

All evolutions from now on are with April 2019. In the brands ranking, Volkswagen (-12.1%) repeats at #1 with 9.4% share vs. 8.7% so far this year, once again edging past Ford (-28.3%) at 9.2% of the market vs. 8.6% year-to-date. This way, Volkswagen holds onto the YTD top spot, and if kept until the end of the year this would be a first in the UK. Audi (-10.4%) limits its fall vs. two years ago to climb onto the third spot overall, while Vauxhall (-15.7%) is up 3 ranks on last month to #4. BMW (-19.4%) and Mercedes (-26.2%) both fall faster than the market while the next five brands are up on two years ago: Toyota (+30.1%), Peugeot (+19.1%) and Land Rover (+12.1%) are the most dynamic followed by Skoda (+2.7%) and Kia (+0.8%). Further down, additional gainers are MG (+119%), Alpine (+100%), Subaru (+26.7%) Mini (+24.5%), Lexus (+10.3%) and Mazda (+10.3%).

Over in the models ranking, the Vauxhall Corsa (+45.5%) signs a 7th win in the past 11 months, cementing its year-to-date domination at 2.9% share. If the Corsa manages to stay on top until the end of the year, it would be the first Vauxhall to top the annual UK charts since statistics began in 1965. The Mercedes A-Class (-8.8%) edges up one spot on March to end the month in 2nd place, sending the Ford Fiesta (-41.8%) down to #3. The Ford Puma equals its record ranking at #4, also hit last August. It distances the VW Golf (-26.6%) and Ford Focus (-39.6%). The Audi A3 is up to #7, its first UK Top 10 finish since last November and highest ranking since July 2018 (#6). The Kia Sportage, VW Polo (-15.2%) and Ford Kuga (-29.6%) also reappear inside the Top 10.

Previous month: UK March 2021: Fleet, green cars pull market up 11.5% but sales down -38% on two years ago

One year ago: UK April 2020: Covid-19 spread crushes market down -97.3% to lowest month since February 1946

Full April 2021 Top 40 brands and Top 10 models below.