UK October 2024: Kia Sportage hits 6th win this year, VW Tiguan up to #5

The VW Tiguan hits its best UK ranking in 6 years.

In October, new car sales in the UK drop year-on-year for the second time in 2024 at -6% to 144,288. The year-to-date volume stays up however at +3.3% to 1,658,382. All channels are down with fleet sales performing best one again at -1.7% to 86,701 and 60.1% share vs. 57.4% a year ago. In contrast private sales drop -11.8% to 54,853 and 38% share vs. 40.5% in October 2023 and business registrations fall -12.8% to 2,734 and 1.9% vs. 2%. Year-to-date, fleets single-handedly push the market up at +14.4% to 979,056 and 59% share vs. 53.3% over the same period a year ago whereas private sales sink -9.6% to 38.8% share vs. 44.4% and business sales drop -4.9% to 35,857 and 2.2% share vs. 2.3%.

In terms of propulsion, petrol falls -14.2% to 72,681 and 50.4% share vs. 55.2% in October 2023, diesel is off -20.5% to 8,961 and 6.2% share vs. 7.3%, PHEV drops -3.2% to 13,832 and 9.6% vs. 9.3%, HEV edges down -1.6% to 19,012 and 13.2% share vs. 12.6%. The only propulsion up is BEV at a spectacular +24.5% to 20.7% share vs. 15.6% a year ago. This is particularly impressive as Tesla only accounts for 0.7% of the market in October. As for scores so far in 2024, petrol is down -1.8% to 888,925 and 53.6% share vs. 56.4% over the same period in 2023, diesel falls -12.8% to 106,610 and 6.4% share vs. 7.6%, PHEV climbs 22.5% to 138,775 and 8.4% share vs. 7.1%, HEV is up 11.1% to 224,339 and 13.5% share vs. 12.6% and BEV is up 14.2% to 299,733 and 18.1% share vs. 16.3% in 2023.

Source: SMMT

Volkswagen (+1.8%) is ultra dominant in the brands ranking at an improved 9.2% share vs. 8.6% year-to-date. BMW (-15.9%) rallies back 7 spots on September to #2 despite a harsh year-on-year fall. Audi (-28.5%) and Ford (-27.5%) fare even worse but Audi stays at #2 year-to-date. Kia (+24.7%) and Mercedes (+37.4%) register splendid upticks below as do Skoda (+24.5%) up to 4.9% share, one percentage point above its YTD level, and Hyundai (+9.9%). Peugeot (+4.4%) is also up at #8 vs. #15 last month and #13 YTD. Further down, BYD (+326.2%), Jeep (+295.4%), Dacia (+33.2%), Volvo (+28.3%) and Citroen (+20.1%) stand out. Newcomer Omoda is up three ranks on last month to crack the Top 30 at #30, just below Suzuki.

In the models charts, the Kia Sportage (+32.5%) signs its 6th monthly win of the year and is now just 350 sales below the Ford Puma (-27%) in the year-to-date race. The Mini (-22.7%) jumps to #3 for its third Top 10 finish and best ranking in 2024. The Volvo XC40 (+3.8%) equals its highest ever ranking at #4, also reached last July. It breaks into the YTD Top 10 as a result at #10. Solid score also by the VW Tiguan (+2.8%) up to #5 overall, the nameplate’s 2nd best ever ranking in the UK below the #4 it reached exactly 6 years ago in October 2018. The Ford Kuga (-17.6%) is up three ranks on last month to #6, its best ranking since November 2023, despite struggling year-on-year. At #7, the Toyota Yaris (+17.1%) breaks into the Top 10 for the first time since June 2023 and reaches its best ranking since December 2022 (#6). Finally the Peugeot 208 (+60.9%) surges ahead to #10, its first Top 10 finish since August 2022 (#7).

Previous month: UK September 2024: BEVs at 20.5% share, Kia Sportage back to #1

One year ago: UK October 2023: Ford Puma leads, BMW 1 Series and Peugeot 2008 at record levels

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