UK July 2022: Dacia smashes share record, Qashqai #1, Tucson, T-Roc, Audi A1 and Aygo X hit ranking records

Third monthly win for the Nissan Qashqai in the UK.

According to figures by SMMT, the UK new car market is down for the 5th consecutive month in July at -9% to 112,162, yet this is the best performance since February when the market was still up. At 112,162 units, we have the lowest July volume since 1998 (37.896). Year-to-date, the market is now off -11.5% to 914,241. SMMT predicts an annual 2022 market down -2.8% to 1.6 million units and 2023 volumes at 1.89 million. Private sales resists and end the month stable at 59,847 units and 53.4% share vs. 48.6% in July 2021 but fleet sales sink -18.2% year-on-year to 50,014 and 44.6% vs. 49.6% last year as carmakers prioritise more profitable private sales. Business sales (-0.5%) are stable also at 2,301 units. The year-to-date picture is similar with private sales (+3.7%) in progression to 487.914 and 53.4% share vs. 45.5% over the same period in 2021 whereas fleet sales implode -25.4% to 404,457 and 44.2% share vs. 52.5% a year ago. Business sales fare the best at +7.6% to 21,870 and 2.4% share vs. 2%.

Source: SMMT

Looking at sales by propulsion, diesel freefalls -29.3% to just 6,210 sales and 5.5% share vs. 7.1% in July 2021, petrol beats the market at -7.2% to 51,294 and 45.7% share vs. 44.8% a year ago, MHEV is down -5.8% to 22,152 units and 19.8% share vs. 19% in 2021, HEV drops -6.7% to 13,730 and 12.2% share vs. 11.9%, BEV is up 9.9% to 12,243 and 10.9% vs. 9% and PHEV skids -34% to 6,533 and 5.8% share vs. 8% a year ago. Year-to-date, diesel is off -48.7% to 52,238 and 5.7% share vs. 9.9% over the same period in 2021, petrol is down -19.2% to 402,468 and 44% share vs. 48.2%, MHEV drops -12.5% to 168,915 and 18.5% share vs. 18.7% last year, HEV climbs 20.7% to 105,332 and 11.5% share vs. 8.4%, BEV soars 49.9% to 127,492 and 13.9% share vs. 8.2% last year.

The Audi A1 scores its first Top 10 finish in the UK, landing directly at #7.

In the brands ranking, despite falling at double the rate of the market, Volkswagen (-18.2%) retains the top spot and advances to #2 year-to-date, overtaking Kia. Audi (-12.5%) is up six spots on June to land at a stellar 2nd place while Toyota (-3.7%) is up three to #3. BMW (-0.1%) is stable in 4th place above Ford (-15.5%) down to #5, its lowest ranking since last January (#6). Kia (-10.4%) roughly matches the market and is down one rank on last month to #6. Hyundai (+8.9%) signs the first year-on-year gain at #7 and breaks its market share record at 5.8%. Land Rover (+49.4%) shoots up to #9, its highest ranking since March 2021 (#8). Nissan (+20.9%) also defies the negative market at #10. Below, Dacia (+102.3%) smashes its share record at 3% vs. a previous best of 1.8% hit last May. The brand seems unstoppable all across Europe. In order of sales, MG (+27.6%), Renault (+60.1%), Cupra (+210.1%), Porsche (+30.1%), Genesis (+129.6%) and Alpine (+188.9%) make themselves noticed.

The new Toyota Aygo X already breaks into the UK Top 10.

Model-wise, the locally-produced Nissan Qashqai (+89%) swooshes into pole position for the third time in the nameplate’s career after last April and September 2017. It however stays in 3rd place year-to-date. The Mini Hatch (+12.7%) scores another very solid month at #2 overall ahead of the Hyundai Tucson up seven spots on June to #3, a new ranking record eclipsing the #4 it hit last November. At #4, the VW T-Roc is in the UK Top 10 for the first time since last January and also smashes its ranking record, superseding the 7th place it reached in August 2019 and February 2021. The VW Golf (-6.7%) remains in 5th position above the Vauxhall Corsa (+16.8%) which still leads YTD. The Audi A1 is up to #7, its first ever Top 10 finish in the UK. Same story for the Toyota Aygo X already among the UK’s top ten best-sellers at #9 while the Toyota Yaris (-39.7%) marks a first Top 10 since September 2021.

Previous month: UK June 2022: Decline accelerates again at -24.3%, Vauxhall Corsa and Tesla Model Y on top, MG HS in Top 10

One year ago: UK July 2021: Toyota outsells Ford, VW Polo signs first win in market down -29.5% to lowest July in 23 years

Full July 2022 Top 40 All-brands and Top 10 models below.