UK August 2024: Volkswagen and Ford Puma dominate, Omoda launches

Omoda has landed in the UK market.

It’s a slight drop for new car sales in the UK in August at -1.3% year-on-year to 84,575, leading to a year-to-date tally up 5.1% to 1,238,855. Private sales are stable at +0.2% to 32,110 and 38% share vs. 37.4% a year ago, fleets edge down -1.2% to 51,329 and an unchanged 60.7% share and business sales sink -30.3% to 1,136. Year-to-date, the trend is different with private sales off -11.2% to 468,345 and 37.8% share vs. 44.7% over the first 8 months of 2023, while fleet sales grow 19.2% to 743,259 and 60% share vs. 52.9% over the same period last year. Business sales are off -3.3% to 27,251.

Looking at sales by propulsion, in August diesel is down -7.3% to 5,165 and 6.1% share vs. 6.5% last year, petrol actually falls faster at -10.1% to 42,872 and 50.7% share vs. 55.7%, BEVs step up 10.8% to 19,113 and 22.6% share vs. 20.1% in August 2023, this is their highest share since December 2022 (32.9%). PHEVs drop -12.3% to 5,786 and 6.8% share vs. 7.7% and HEVs shoot up 36.1% to 11,639 and 13.8% share vs. 10% a year ago. Year-to-date, diesel is off -13% to 80,093 and 6.5% share vs. 7.8% last year, petrol is stable at +0.8% to 674,312 and 54.4% share vs. 56.7%, BEVs are up 10.5% to 213,544 and 17.2% share vs. 16.4%, PHEVs grow 24.9% to 100,457 and 8.1% share vs. 6.8% and HEVs are up 17.9% to 170,440 and 13.8% share vs. 12.3% over the first 8 months of 2023. 

Source: SMMT

As for the brands ranking, Volkswagen (-4.2%) holds onto the top spot with 9.4% share vs. 8.5% so far this year. Audi (+2.1%) is up two spots on July to #2 while Ford (-28.8%) rallies back up three ranks on last month to #3 but endures the largest year-on-year fall in the Top 10 bar Vauxhall (-41.3%). Kia (+2%) drops one spot to #3, distancing BMW (-3.9%) and a resurgent Mercedes (+21%). Skoda (+4%) and Toyota (+1.7%) post small gains in the remainder of the Top 10. At #8, this is Skoda’s highest ranking since February 2023 (#6). There are a slew of high performing carmakers further down the charts, including Honda (+95.6%), Land Rover (+83.4%), Volvo (+72%), Renault (+39%) and Seat (+37.4%). BYD advances 1227.3% and Omoda makes its landing in the UK market at #40.

Model-wise the Ford Puma (+5.8%) reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-date for the first time since last April, ending three consecutive months of Kia Sportage reign. The latter is up 51.3% year-on-year at #2. The Tesla Model 3 (-9.2%) and Model Y (-36.5%) reappear inside the Top 10 at #3 and #5 respectively. The Model Y is outside the YTD Top 10 whereas it ranked #5 over the Full Year 2023. Outstanding year-on-year progressions for the VW Polo (+40.7%), Volvo XC40 (+38.6%), Nissan Qashqai and VW Golf (+16.7%).

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

One year ago: UK August 2023: Ford Puma and Tesla Model Y top market up 24.4%

Full August 2024 Top 48 brands and Top 10 models below.