UK October 2023: Ford Puma leads, BMW 1 Series and Peugeot 2008 at record levels

The BMW 1 Series is up to a highest ever #5 in October.

The UK new car market climbs up 14.3% year-on-year in October to 153,529 units, this is above the pre-pandemic level of October 2019 (143,251). The year-to-date volume is up 19.6% to 1,605,437, the best result since 2019. Fleet sales are solely responsible for the market’s growth in October, as it was also the case in September. They rise 28.8% to 87,479 and 57% share vs. 50.6% in October 2022. Private sales are stable at +0.3% to 62,915 and 41% share vs. 46.7% a year ago while business sales drop -15.2% to 3,135. Year-to-date, here too fleet sales push the market up at +40.8% to 854,372 and 53.2% share vs. 45.2% over the same period in 2022 whereas private sales only manage a meagre 1.6% gain to 713,301 and 44.4% share vs. 52.3%. Business sales are up 11.2% to 37,764.

In terms of propulsion, petrol is up 9.3% to 62,303 and 40.6% share vs. 42.4% a year ago, diesel falls further at -17.1% to 5,261 and 3.4% share vs. 4.7%, MHEV is up 6.4% to 28,163 and 18.3% share vs. 19.7%, HEV up 24.6% to 19,574 and 12.7% share vs. 11.7%, PHEV up 60.5% to 14,285 and 9.3% share vs. 6.6% and BEVs gain 20.1% to 23,943 and 15.6% share vs. 14.8% a year ago. Year-to-date, petrol is up 12.9% to 658.249 and 41% share vs. 43.4% over the first 10 months of 2022, diesel is off -15.6% to 61,947 and 3.9% share vs. 5.5%, MHEV are up 22.9% to 307,346 and 19.2% share vs. 18.6%, HEV is up 27.8% to 202,130 and 12.6% share vs. 11.8%, PHEV is up 36.7% to 113,278 and 7.1% share vs. 6.2% and BEVs are up 34.2% to 262,487 and 16.3% share vs. 14.6% last year.

Source: SMMT

In the brands ranking, Volkswagen (+2%) can only muster a tiny year-on-year growth but remains in the lead of the brands charts with 8.5% share. Audi (+23.6%) delivers a stellar evolution and its highest share since last April at 8.2%. Ford (-8.8%) endures the only drop in the Top 10 and falls to #3. It is followed by BMW (+21.6%) up six spots on September to #4 and Vauxhall (+20.2%) up three to #5. Both fare significantly higher than their YTD levels at 7.3% vs. 5.6% share and 6% vs. 5.3% respectively. MG (+28%) sports the largest uptick in the Top 10 with Peugeot (+25.9%) shooting up five ranks on last month to #7 and 4.6% share vs. 3.3% YTD. Cupra (+63.5%), Renault (+57%), Volvo (+52.6%) Land Rover (+39.9%) and Skoda (+37.3%) also impress while Tesla (+24236.4%) explodes its volume as its end of quarter skew is abandoned.

The Ford Puma (+49.9%) reclaims the top of the models ranking it holds year-to-date with 3.1% share, distancing the Mini (+45.6%) up from outside the September Top 10 directly into 2nd place. It now ranks #8 year-to-date. The Vauxhall Corsa (+24.4%) posts a very satisfying month and climbs back up four spots on September to #3, a ranking it also holds YTD. The VW Polo scores its highest ranking since September 2022 at #4 while the BMW 1 Series shoots up to #5, managing its first UK Top 10 finish since October 2020 (#9) and equalling its ranking record also hit in December 2012. Below the Kia Sportage (+64.4%) in outstanding shape, the Peugeot 2008 (+43.5%) breaks its ranking record at #7. The Audi A3 (+38.4%) and Ford Kuga (+49.8%) also impress as does the Volvo XC40 back inside the Top 10 for the first time since last May.

Previous month: UK September 2023: Fleets lift market up 21%, 6 SUVs in Top 6, MG places two models in Top 10

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

Full October 2023 Top 45 brands and Top 10 models below.