UK October 2022: Ford Fiesta #1, Nissan Qashqai #1 YTD, Ora lands, market up 26.4%

Chinese brand Ora has landed in the UK.

The UK market rallies back up 26.4% year-on-year in October to 134,344 registrations, keeping in mind October 2021 was the worst October in 30 years. The year-to-date tally remains in negative at -5.6% to 1,342,712 units. Private sales trail the market at +7.4% to 62,714 units and 46.7% share vs. 55% a year ago while fleet sales surge 47.4% to 67,911 and 50.6% share vs. 43.4% and are the main engine of the market growth this month. Business fleet soar 108.6% to 3,719 and 2.8% share vs. 1.7%. Year-to-date, private sales this time outrace the market at +2.7% to 701,781 and 52.3% share vs. 48% over the same period in 2021 whereas fleet sales drop a heavy -14.8% to 606,952 and 45.2% share vs. 50.1% a year ago. Business fleet fare best at +24.2% but only account for 2.5% of the market at 33,979 units.

In terms of propulsion, petrol gains 17.8% for the month to 56,994 units and 42.4% share vs. 45.5% last year, diesel drops -9.7% to 6,347 and 4.7% share vs. 6.6%, MHEV soar 48.9% to 26,459 and 19.7% share vs. 16.6% a year ago, BEV are up 23.4% to 19,933 and 14.8% share vs. 15.2%, HEV surge 81.7% to 15,712 and 11.7% vs. 8.1% and PHEV edge up 6.2% to 8,899 and 6.6% share vs. 7.9% in October 2021. Year-to-date, petrol is down -13% to 582,793 and 43.4% share vs. 47.1% over the same period last year, diesel sinks -41.1% to 73,370 and 5.5% share vs. 8.8%, MHEV drop -4.8% to 250,003 and 18.6% share vs. 18.5%, BEV are up 38.4% to 195,547 and 14.6% share vs. 9.9%, HEV step up 22.7% to 158,139 and 11.8% share vs. 9.1% and PHEV skid -13.2% to 82,860 and 6.2% share vs. 6.7%.

Source: SMMT

Over in the brands ranking, Ford (+94.7%) almost doubles its sales year-on-year to confirm it is back in charge with 9.9% share vs. 8% so far this year. Volkswagen (+41.4%) is at 9.5% share vs. 7.8% YTD and Audi (+49%) is at 7.6% vs. 6.7% year-to-date, ensuring the podium entirely beats the market. BMW (+18.3%) is a little more shy in 4th place while Toyota (+62.8%) surges ahead at #5. Vauxhall (+26.4%) matches the market to rally back five spots on September to #6. Nissan (+39.5%) is the only remaining Top 10 brand to outpace the market at #7 vs. #10 year-to-date. Kia (-18.8%) and Mercedes (-12.2%) struggle while Hyundai edges up just 4%. Below and in order of sales, MG (+103%), Skoda (+80.3%), Land Rover (+103.4%), Fiat (+90%) and Mazda (+64.8%) shine, Cupra (+104.9%) is above sister brand Seat (-38.4%) for the 4th month running, Polestar (+62.5%) continues to gear up and DS (+439%) delivers the largest gain in market. We welcome Chinese brand Ora at #40.

We have a blast from the past in the models ranking: the Ford Fiesta (+684.8%) is up 8-fold year-on-year to land in pole position for the first time since February 2021. As a reminder the Ford Fiesta was #1 in the UK for 12 years in a row up until 2020. Its production will stop in the summer of 2023. The Nissan Qashqai (+49%) is also very dynamic at #2 and as a result advances to the YTD top spot, dislodging the Vauxhall Corsa (+8.5%). The VW Golf (+190.9%) and Ford Puma (+423.3%) post surreal year-on-year gains above the Corsa. The Mini (-17.2%) is back inside the Top 10 at #6 despite a ghastly year-on-year drop, while the Peugeot 2008 scores its fourth ever Top 10 finish at #8. The Fiat 500 also returns to the Top 10 for the first time since March 2016.

Previous month: UK September 2022: Nissan Qashqai and Tesla Model Y top market up a shy 4.6%

One year ago: UK October 2021: Sales off -24.6% to weakest October in 30 years, VW Polo leads, Peugeot 2008 cracks Top 10

Full October 2022 Top 42 brands and Top 10 models below.