UK April 2024: VW Polo surges to #2, Audi A3 breaks ranking record

VW Polo sales are up 282.6% in April.

New car sales in the UK mark 21 consecutive months of year-on-year gains in April, but just: volumes are up 1% year-on-year to 134,274 units. This remains -16.6% below the pre-pandemic sales of April 2019. The year-to-date tally is up 8.4% to 679,822. Once again and somewhat worryingly, the market growth is only due to soaring fleet sales up 18.5% to 81,207 and 60.5% share vs. 51.5% a year ago whereas private sales sink -17.7% to 50,458 and 37.6% vs. 46.1% in April 2023. Meanwhile business sales skid -16.1% to 2,609 and 1.9% share vs. 2.3%. The year-to-date trend is similar with fleet sales up 26.7% to 407,661 and 60% share vs. 51.3% over the same period in 2023, private sales down -11% to 257,804 and 37.9% share vs. 46.2% and business sales off -9.4% to 14,357 and 2.1% share vs. 2.5%.

Looking at sales by propulsion, petrol is down -3.1% to 74,877 an 55.8% share vs. 58.1% a year ago, BEVs gain 10.7% to 22,717 and 16.9% vs. 15.4% in April 2023, HEVs are up 16.7% to 17,538 and 13.1% share vs. 11.3% last year, PHEVs soar 22.1% to 10,493 and 7.8% vs. 6.5% ad diesel sinks -25.3% to 8,649 and 6.4% share vs. 8.7%. Year-to-date, petrol is up 6.7% to 381,802 and 56.2% share vs. 57.1% over the same period in 2023, BEVs are up 10.6% to 107,031 and 15.7% share vs. 15.4%, HEVs up 13.3% to 91,633 and 13.5% share vs. 12.9%, PHEVs up 31.4% to 53,052 and 7.8% share vs. 6.4% and diesel off -9.8% to 46,304 and 6.8% share vs. 8.2%.

In the lead of the brands ranking, Volkswagen (+12.8%) leaps up to 9.9% share vs. 8% so far this year. Audi (-9.9%) follows but drops on a particularly solid year-ago result. In contrast BMW (+34.6%) surges ahead but holds 6.8% share, the same level as YTD where it ranks #2. Ford (-20.8%) is in freefall at #4 and is down to #5 year-to-date vs. #2 over the Full Year 2023. Mercedes (+28.4%), Nissan (+18.2%) and Skoda (+13.5%) also shine year-on-year as does Toyota (+7.5%) to a lesser extent. Kia (+1.4%) and Hyundai (+0.8%) are more muted. Below, notice Jaguar (+92.1%), Seat (+83.9%), Renault (+76.6%), Lexus (+48.8%) and Volvo (+29.6%) excelling among brands holding 1% share or more. Further down, BYD (+1048.3%), Ora (+700%), Smart (+675%) and Subaru (+75.3%) stand out.

Over in the models ranking, the Ford Puma (+21.5%) reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-date with 3.2% share vs. 2.9% so far this year. The VW Polo (+282.6%) surges to #2, its first Top 10 finish of the year and best ranking since August 2022 when it was #1. As a reminder the Polo ranked #16 over the Full Year 2023. The Audi A3 (+18.1%) continues to impress at #3, this is the nameplate’s first ever podium incursion in the UK, eclipsing a previous record of #5 reached 6 times over the past 10 years: in April 2014, October 2016, April 2023, May 2023, February 2024 and March 2024. The MG HS (+120.8%) and Volvo XC40 (+22.6%) also post fantastic gains in the remainder of the Top 10.

Previous month: UK March 2024: Nissan Qashqai #1, Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class impress

One year ago: UK April 2023: Audi teases VW for #1 spot, Ford Puma manages 2nd ever win

Full April 2024 Top 47 All brands and Top 10 models below.