UK August 2023: Ford Puma and Tesla Model Y top market up 24.4%

The Ford Puma is the most popular vehicle in the UK in August.

New car sales in the UK soar 24.4% year-on-year in July to 85,657 units, the highest July volume since 2020. The year-to-date tally is now up a robust 20% to 1,179,298 sales. Private sales go completely against the market at -8.1% to 32,071 and 37.4% share vs. 50.7% in August 2022 whereas fleet sales surge 58.4% to 51,951 and 60.7% share vs. 47.6% a year ago. Business sales are up 39.4% to 1,635. Year-to-date, the trend is similar with private sales up just 0.9% to 527,442 and 44.7% share vs. 53.2% over the same period last year while fleet sales shoot up 42.6% to 623,637 units and 52.9% share vs. 44.5% a year ago. Business sales are up 22.8% to 28,219 and 2.4% share.

Looking at fuel/propulsion type, diesel is off -18.1% to just 3,647 sales and 4.3% share vs. 6.5% in August 2022, petrol is up 9.8% to 34,756 and 40.6% share vs. 46% a year ago, mild hybrids (MHEVs) are up 36.9% to 14,859 and 17.3% share vs. 15.8%, BEVs are up 72.3% to 17,243 and 20.1% share (its highest so far this year) vs. 14.5% last year, PHEV gain 70% to 6,601 and 7.7% share vs. 5.6% and HEVs edge up 6.8% to 8,551 and 10% share vs. 11.6% a year ago. Year-to-date, diesel is down -17.5% To 46,790 and 4% share vs. 5.8% over the first 8 months of 2022, petrol is up 13% to 490,483 and 41.6% share vs. 44.2%, MHEVs ar euphorias 24.5% to 223,804 and 19% share vs. 18.3%, BEVs skyrocket 40.5% to 193,221 and 16.4% share vs. 14%, PHEVs are up 30.4% to 80,458 and 6.8% share vs. 6.3% and HEVs are up 27.5% to 144,542 and 12.3% share vs. 11.5% over the same period in 2022.

Source: SMMT

In the brands ranking, Volkswagen (+17.4%) easily holds onto the top spot with 9.7% share vs. 8.6% year-to-date, distancing Ford (+23.8%) at 8.7% share vs. 7.7% YTD. Audi (+32.8%) beats the market in third place above Vauxhall (+19.9%) back up three spots on July to #4. Tesla (+325.1%) is up 8 ranks on last month to #9, with Skoda (+46.3%) and Kia (+26.8%) also performing very well in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, Polestar (+593.2%), Renault (+158.5%), Suzuki (+156.3%), Porsche (+146.3%), MG (+138.6%), Lexus (+135.8%), Volvo (+118.9%) and Seat (+95.7%) all impress by doubling their year-ago volumes or more.

Model-wise, the Ford Puma (+24.6%) cements its lead by lodging a third pole position in the past 4 months. However this month the Tesla Model Y is only 23 units below and climbs 8 spots on July to #2. It ranks #3 year-to-date. The Vauxhall Corsa (+20.7%) trails the market but ranks at a solid third place above the Ford Kuga (+38.9%) and Vauxhall Mokka (+43.6%), The Tesla Model 3 makes a return into the UK Top 10 for the first time since December 2022 at #6. The Hyundai Tucson (-8.2%) and VW T-Roc (+7.7%) wobble just as the Ford Fiesta and Audi A3 round out the Top 10.

Previous month: UK July 2023: Ford Puma affirms domination, 5 SUVs in Top 5

One year ago: UK August 2022: Market edges up 1.2%, Hyundai breaks share record again, VW Polo #1, first Top 10 for Citroen C3

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