UK January 2024: Kia Sportage #1, BMW 1 Series up to record #5

BMW 1 Series UK sales are up 156.1% year-on-year in January.

The UK new car market advances 8.2% year-on-year in January to 142,876 units. One of the interesting facts in the UK this month is the one millionth BEV registered. Diesel sales drop -10.1% to 9,348, petrol matches the market at +7.5% to 81,905 and 57.3% share vs. 57.7% a year ago, BEVs soar 21% to 20,935 and 14.7% share vs. 13.1% in January 2023, PHEVs do ever better at +31.1% to 11,944 and 8.4% share vs. 6.9% and HEVs drop -1.2% to 18,744 and 13.1% share vs. 14.4%. Once again the trend is skewed towards fleet sales, up 29.9% to 90,314 and 63.2% share vs. 52.7% a year ago whereas private sales sink -15.8% to 50,244 and just 35.2% share vs. 45.2% in January 2023. Business sales drop -17.7% to 2,318 units.

Source: SMMT

Volkswagen (-7.8%) suffers but stays on top of the brands charts with 8% share vs. 8.5% over the Full Year 2023. Less than 700 units below is BMW (+38.2%) in terrific shape this month with 7.6% of the market vs. 5.9% over FY2023. BMW ranks #2 in the UK for the third month in a row. Kia (+13.2%) rallies back up a spectacular 13 spots on December to #3 overall with 7.1% share. This is Kia’s best UK ranking since March 2022 (#2). Ford (+5.9%) and Audi (-2.2%) are both reserved, whereas Vauxhall (+58.6%) and Nissan (+52.3%) sport the biggest gains in the Top 10. Below, Peugeot (+63.4%), Land Rover (+46.9%), Mini (+36.9%) and Renault (+26.3%) also shine while Tesla (+173.1%) shoots up.

Model-wise, the Kia Sportage (+76%) starts the year with a bang, scoring its 2nd ever monthly win the UK after January 2022. Leader over the Full Year 2023, the Ford Puma (+81.4%) ranks #2 in January ahead of the Nissan Qashqai (+28.4%). Surprise #1 a year ago, the MG HS (-2%) retrogrades to a still excellent 4th place. The BMW 1 Series (+156.1%) shoots up to #5, its highest ever ranking, also hit in December 2012 and October 2023. The Mini (+80.6%), VW Golf (+80%), Audi A3 (+68.6%) and Nissan Juke (+35.9%) also vastly beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10.

Previous post: UK Full Year 2023: Now with exclusive Top 50 models

One year ago: UK January 2023: MG HS surprise leader, market up 14.7%

Full January 2024 Top 45 All brands and Top 10 models below.