UK May 2023: Audi signs first ever monthly win, Ford Puma now #1 YTD

Audi is the most popular manufacturer in the UK this month.

145,204 new cars hit UK roads in May, a 16.7% year-on-year improvement leading to a year-to-date tally up 16.8% to 772,454. We are nevertheless still below the May 2021 volume of 156,737. Private sales worryingly fall into negative at -0.5% o 65,932 units and 45.4% share vs. 53.3% a year ago. In contrast fleet sales soar 36.9% to 76,207 and 52.5% share vs. 44.7% in May 2022 and business sales are up 22.5% to 3,065 and 2% share. Year-to-date, the situation is very similar with private sales down -0.9% to 355,527 and 46% share vs. 54.2% over the same period in 2022, fleet sales up 38.6% to 398,024 and 51.5% share vs. 43.4% and business sales up 23.5% to 18,903.

In terms of alimentation, diesel is down -24.4% to 5,758 for the month, petrol up 5.3% to 59,766, Mild hybrids (MHEV) soar 25% to 28,350, BEV surge 58.7% to 24,512 and 16.9% share vs. 12.4% in May 2022, PHEV are up 23% to 9,025 and HEV are up 22.2% to 17,792. Year-to-date, diesel is down -17.9% to 31,325, petrol up 13.2% to 327,210, MHEV are up 19.3% to 144,677, BEV up 31.1% to 121,268 and 15.7% share vs. 14% over the first 5 months of 2022, PHEV up 13.4% to 49,385 and HEV up 28.8% to 98,679.

Source: SMMT

Audi (+30.4%) spectacularly takes the lead of the brands ranking for the first time in UK history with 8.1% share, just 121 sales above Volkswagen (+11.3%). Ford (-1.2%) underperforms at #3 but stays #2 year-to-date. Kia (+5.2%) repeats at #4 above Vauxhall (+12.5%) and Toyota (+16.1%). MG (+100.6%) and Nissan (+55.8%) score very impressive year-on-year upticks in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas BMW (-7.2%) and Hyundai (+4.4%) struggle. Below, Tesla (+6778%), Cupra (+96.1%), Mazda (+84.4%), Volvo (+76.6%) and Skoda (+52.2%) stand out.

Model-wise, the Ford Puma (+16.9%) repeats at #1 for its third ever victory (add August 2021) and snaps the year-to-date top spot as a result. The Nissan Qashqai (+38.9%) rallies back up four spots on April to #2 ahead of the Vauxhall Mokka (+138.2%). The Vauxhall Corsa (-31.2%) is down two to #4 and falls to #2 year-to-date. The Audi A3 repeats at #4 above the Hyundai Tucson (+29.5%). The Volvo XC40 surges to #7, its highest ranking so far this year. The Nissan Juke (#8), Tesla Model Y (#9) and Toyota Yaris (#10) are all back inside the Top 10.

Previous month: UK April 2023: Audi teases VW for #1 brand, Ford Puma manages 2nd ever win

One year ago: UK May 2022: Ford (-2.9%) resists, places Kuga at #3 in market accelerating its fall (-20.6%)

Full May 2023 Top 45 All brands and Top 10 models below.