UK May 2021: Audi outsells Ford for first time, VW Golf best-seller in market down -14.7% on two years ago

The VW Golf is the best-selling vehicle in the UK in May.

As the UK market was paralysed by Covid-19 restrictions a year ago, UK new car sales surge 674.1% year-on-year in May to 156.737 units, lifting the year-to-date tally up 42.5% to 723.845. However, May 2021 volumes remain down -14.7% on pre-pandemic May 2019 (183.724) and down -13.2% on the 10-year May average (180.489 for 2010-2019). Year-to-date volumes for their part are down -29.1% on the 10-year 5 months average (1.020.293 for the 2010-2019). Private sales are up 472.6% to 73.865 and 47.1% share vs. 63.7% in May 2020 while fleet sales soar 1094.9% to 79,435 and 50.7% share vs. 32.8% and business sales are up 391% to 3.437 and 2.2% share vs. 3.5%. Year-to-date, private sales are up 33.2% to 321.983 and 44.5% share vs. 47.6% over the same period in 2020, fleet sales are up 51.7% to 388.349 and 53.7% vs. 50.4% and business sales are up 30.7% to 13.513 and 1.9% share vs. 2%.

In terms of fuel type, diesel is up 348.8% to 15.474 and 9.9% share vs. 17% in May 2020, petrol is up 579.7% to 75.787 and 48.4% share vs. 55.1%, MHEV is up 1586.7% to 29.501 and 18.8% vs. 8.6% a year ago, BEV is up 441.3% to 13.120 and 8.4% share vs. 12%, PHEV up 1091.7% to 9.855 and 6.3% share vs. 4.1% and HEV up 1903.1% to 13.000 and 8.3% share vs. 3.2%. Year-to-date, diesel is down -18.6% to 78.060 and 10.8% share vs. 18.9% over the same period in 2020, MHEV is up 218.9% to 133.097 and 18.4% share vs. 8.2% in 2020, BEV is up 145.1% to 54.051 and 7.5% share vs. 4.3%, PHEV up 214.1% to 46.068 and 6.4% share vs. 2.9% and HEV up 94.4% to 56.397 and 7.8% share vs. 5.7%. All in all, year-to-date electrified vehicle sales (MHEV, BEV, PHEV and HEV) are up 169.5% 289.613 and a whopping 40% share vs. 21.1% over the same period in 2020, in essence doubling their share year-on-year.

Source: SMMT

All evolutions below are vs. May 2019. In the brands ranking, Volkswagen (+4.3%) defies the negative context to score a third consecutive monthly win with a splendid 10.5% share, its highest so far this year. Volkswagen therefore consolidates its year-to-date leadership at 9.1% of the UK market. Audi (+2%) is in the same boat and breaks its UK ranking record to point in 2nd place overall with 8.2% share, outselling Ford (-42.5%) for the first time in UK history. BMW (-16.3%) is up one spot on last month to rank #4 above Vauxhall (-29.3%) and Mercedes (-34.1%) both losing way more ground than the market. Toyota (+16.3%) and Kia (+12.7%) post the largest and only double-digit gains in the Top 10 while Peugeot (-0.9%), Skoda (-2.2%) and Hyundai (-9.3%) contain their losses. Further down, MG (+102.4%), Alpine (+35.7%), Lexus (+34.3%), Abarth (+26.5%) and Subaru (+14.5%) manage the only additional year-on-year gains in market.

Model-wise, the VW Golf (-10.2%) leaps up four spots on April to lodge its first UK monthly win since March 2020, eclipsing the Nissan Qashqai to climb to #4 year-to-date. The Vauxhall Corsa (-8.8%) is toppled to #2 but remains in the year-to-date lead with a 2.300 unit lead over the Ford Fiesta (-58.4%) in complete freefall to #7 for the month. The VW Polo (+21.2%) is up six ranks on last month to round out the podium at #3, its highest UK ranking since December 2018 when it hit #2. The Mercedes A-Class (-11.3%) is down two spots on April to #4 and remains #3 year-to-date with 2.3% share, just as the Ford Puma becomes the carmaker’s new best-seller at #5. Great performance also by the Kia Sportage (+15.3%) in 6th place while the Toyota Yaris (#8) and Mini (#9) return to the Top 10 and the Audi A3 scores a second consecutive Top 10 finish at #10.

Previous month: UK April 2021: Toyota, Peugeot shine in market down -12.7% on two years ago

One year ago: UK May 2020: Extended health crisis stifles market down -89% to lowest May since 1952

Full May 2021 Top 40 All-brands and Top 10 models below.