UK July 2024: Kia Sportage threepeats at #1, Volvo XC40 up to record #4

The Volvo XC40 is up to a record 4th place in July.

It’s a 24th consecutive month of growth for the UK new car market with sales up 2.5% year-on-year in July to 147,517. The YTD total is up 5.5% to 1,154,280. The trend towards fleet sales continues this month with private sales down -11.1% to 53,356 and 36.2% share vs. 41.7% a year ago in July 2023, fleet sales up 13% to 91,521 and 62% share vs. 56.3% and business sales off -9.3% to 2,640 and 1.8%. Year-to-date, private registrations drop -11.9% to 436.235 and 37.8% share vs. 45.3% over the same period in 2023 whereas fleet sales advance 21% to 691,929 and 59.9% share vs. 52.3%. Meanwhile business sales are down -1.6% to 26,116.

Looking at propulsion type, diesel is off -21.9% to 8,708 and 5.9% share vs. 7.7% last year, petrol drops -5.9% to 76,879 and 52.1% share vs. 56.8%. BEVs gain 18.8% to 27,335 and 18.5% share vs. 16% in July 2023, PHEV are up 12.4% to 13,149 and 8.9% share vs. 8.1% and HEVs surge 31.4% to 21,446 and 14.5% share vs. 11.3%. So far in 2024, diesel falls -13.3% to 74,928 and 6.5% share vs. 7.9%, petrol edges up 1.5% to 630,966 and 54.7% share vs. 56.8%, BEVs gain 10.5% to 194,431 and 16.8% share vs. 16.1%, PHEVs are up 28.2% to 94,671 and 8.2% share vs. 6.8% and HEVs up 17.1% to 159,284 and 13.8% share vs. 12.4%.

Volkswagen (+7.5%) is the runaway leader in the brands charts with 9.5% share, one percentage point above its YTD level. BMW (+14%) posts a sturdy gain to cement its 2nd place overall at 6.7% of the market. Kia (+1.5%) lifts two spots on June to #3, its second podium finish of the year after January when it also ranked #3. Audi (-14.9%) drops #4 ahead of a very strong Nissan (+30.1%). Ford (-30.5%) continues to freefall at #6 followed by Mercedes (+27.4%) and Hyundai (+16.7%) both strong. Volvo (+62.4%) manages its first Top 10 finish in almost four years (since October 2020 at #10 also) and racks up its highest market share since pandemic-disrupted May 2020 (5.8% and #6). Cupra (+43.7%), Renault (+33.1%), Peugeot (+30.6%) and Seat (+20.4%) also shine below.

Model-wise, the Kia Sportage (+30.7%) brilliantly threepeats at #1 with 2.7% share vs. 2.4% so far this year where it ranks #2. The Nissan Qashqai (+19.8%) rallies back up five spots on June to land at #2, distancing the YTD leader the Ford Puma (-17.1%). The Volvo XC40 (+64.7%) surges to a record #4, eclipsing its previous best of #5 reached in January and February 2021. The next 5 models all beat the market with double-digit gains: the VW Golf (+32.6%) climbs to #4 year-to-date vs. #12 over the Full Year 2023, the Hyundai Tucson (+11.8%) repeats at #6, the VW T-Roc (+59.3%) returns to the Top 10 at #7, the Nissan Juke (+20.5%) is down six spots on las month to #8 but in great shape year-on year, it is followed by the VW Polo (+43.3%) and the MG HS (+7.7%).

Previous month: UK June 2024: Kia Sportage and Nissan Juke top market up 1.1%

One year ago: UK July 2023: Ford Puma affirms its domination, 5 SUVs in Top 5

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