UK February 2024: Strongest February volume in 20 years, VW Golf up to #2

The VW Golf hits its highest UK ranking in 2.5 years.

New car sales in the UK score their best February volume in 20 years, up 14% year-on-year to 84,886 vs. 91,460 in February 2004. The year-to-date cume is up 10.3% to 227,762. However this outstanding result is entirely due to fleet and business sales instead of private sales. Indeed fleet sales are up 25.2% year-on-year to 54,740 and 64.5% share vs. 58.8% last year whereas private sales actually drop -2.6% to 28,630 and 33.7% share vs. 39.5% in February 2023. Business sales are up 15.5% to 1,516. Year-to-date, the discrepancy is even more blatant with fleets up 28.1% to 145,055 and 63.7% share vs. 54.9% and private sales off -11.4% to 78,874 and 34.6% share vs. 43.1% last year. Business sales are down -7.1% to 3,833.

In February, petrol sales are up 13.3% to 48,001 and 56.6% share vs. 56.9% a year ago, diesel is down -7.4% to 4,995 and 5.9% vs. 7.3%, BEVs are up 21.8% to 14,991 and 17.7% share vs. 16.5% in February 2023, PHEVs gain 29.1% to 6,098 and 7.2% share v. 6.3% and HEV are up 12.1% to 10,801 and 12.7% share vs. 12.9%. Year-to-date, petrol is up 9.5% to 129,906 and 57% share vs. 57.4%, diesel drops -9.2% to 14,343 and 6.3% share vs. 7.7%, BEVs surge 21.3% to 35,926 and 15.8% share vs. 14.3%, PHEVs surge 30.4% to 18,042 and 7.9% share vs. 6.7% and HEVs edge up 3.3% to 29,545 and 13% share vs. 13.9 a year ago.

Source: SMMT

In the brands ranking, Volkswagen (+13.3%) keeps hold of the pole position with 9.1% share, its highest since last August (9.7%). BMW (+65.5%) shoots up year-on-year and stays in 2nd place with 7% of the market. It is the fourth month in a row that BMW ranks #2 in the UK. It is followed by Ford (-14.7%) unable to capitalise on the market growth. Audi (+11.8%) also trails the overall lift at #4 while Vauxhall (-13.2%) is in a rut but gains two spots on last month to #5. MG (+244.5%) delivers the largest gain in the Top 30 but drops two ranks on January to #10. Nissan (+28%) and Kia (+24.3%) also gain share in the remainder of the Top 10.

Spectacularly the Top 9 models all outrun the market. The Ford Puma (+59.4%) returns to the top spot it held over the Full Year 2023. It distances the VW Golf (+89.4%) up six spots on January to #2, its highest ranking since June 2021. The T-Roc (+46%) makes it two Volkswagens on the podium. #1 last month, the Kia Sportage (+54.4%) posts another strong result but falls three ranks to #4. The Audi A3 (+121.6%) and Mini (+49.6%) are also very dynamic while the BMW 1 Series (+235.5%) lodges the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10. It is now #4 year-to-date which is higher than its monthly ranking record. The Tesla Model Y (+19.9%) makes its comeback inside the UK monthly Top 10 at #8.

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

One year ago: UK February 2023: Skoda (#6), Vauxhall Mokka (#2) break records in market up 26.2%

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