Keith Adams
Overall, UK sales showed a marked rise in July against news that the country’s economy remained in recession, but the 9.3% rise wasn’t reflected in weak performances by some of the home players. Aston Martin, Lotus and MG all reported falls in sale compared with last year, but this news is eclipsed by Land Rover’s remarkable rise of 62.61% over last year. The continued popularity of the Range Rover Evoque continues to have a positive effect on JLR’s trading performance.
‘SMMT’s full year forecast is for 1.97 million cars to be registered during 2012 suggesting a slight slowing of demand in the second half of the year,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘International economic stability remains a concern for vehicle manufacturers and the UK market, but intense competition and new fuel efficient products are creating great opportunities for motorists.’
The Brits’ sales in July
| JULY | % Change | YEAR-TO-DATE | % Change | |||||||
| MARQUE | 2012 | % Market share | 2011 | % Market share | 2012 | % Market share | 2011 | % Market share | ||
| Aston Martin | 67 | 0.05 | 80 | 0.06 | -16.25 | 549 | 0.05 | 665 | 0.06 | -17.44 |
| Bentley | 118 | 0.08 | 93 | 0.07 | 26.88 | 781 | 0.06 | 680 | 0.06 | 14.85 |
| Jaguar | 892 | 0.62 | 966 | 0.73 | -7.66 | 7,999 | 0.67 | 7,854 | 0.68 | 1.85 |
| Land Rover | 3,436 | 2.39 | 2,113 | 1.61 | 62.61 | 29,511 | 2.46 | 22,073 | 1.90 | 33.70 |
| Lotus | 17 | 0.01 | 45 | 0.03 | -62.22 | 99 | 0.01 | 263 | 0.02 | -62.36 |
| MG | 23 | 0.02 | 36 | 0.03 | -36.11 | 553 | 0.05 | 163 | 0.01 | 239.26 |
| MINI | 2,914 | 2.03 | 2,438 | 1.85 | 19.52 | 27,528 | 2.29 | 27,058 | 2.33 | 1.74 |
| Other British | 54 | 0.04 | 127 | 0.10 | -57.48 | 599 | 0.05 | 662 | 0.06 | -9.52 |
UK Top ten sellers, July 2012
| Best sellers | July | Year-to-date | |||||||||||
1 | Fiesta | 7,533 | 1 | Fiesta | 67,103 | ||||||||
2 | Corsa | 5,809 | 2 | Corsa | 52,956 | ||||||||
3 | Astra | 5,211 | 3 | Focus | 48,595 | ||||||||
4 | Focus | 4,742 | 4 | Golf | 38,939 | ||||||||
5 | Golf | 4,367 | 5 | Astra | 35,694 | ||||||||
6 | Qashqai | 3,721 | 6 | Qashqai | 27,156 | ||||||||
7 | C-Class | 3,163 | 7 | 3 Series | 25,515 | ||||||||
8 | Polo | 2,863 | 8 | Polo | 25,212 | ||||||||
9 | A3 | 2,711 | 9 | C-Class | 20,780 | ||||||||
10 | Insignia | 2,591 | 10 | Insignia | 20,481 | ||||||||
Is the Editor of the Parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of Classic Car Weekly, and launch editor/creator of Modern Classics magazine. Has contributed to various motoring titles including Octane, Practical Classics, Evo, Honest John, CAR magazine, Autocar, Pistonheads, Diesel Car, Practical Performance Car, Performance French Car, Car Mechanics, Jaguar World Monthly, MG Enthusiast, Modern MINI, Practical Classics, Fifth Gear Website, Radio 4, and the the Motoring Independent...
Likes 'conditionally challenged' motors and taking them on unfeasible adventures all across Europe.
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YTD, JLR have hit over 3% uk market share – absolutely amazing for a premium brand(s) in a recession! Also, nearly all these cars will have been actually sold, as opposed to bombing them out to the Daily rental boys, or registering a fleet to the Olympics etc. Ironic yet pleasing to recognise that JLR have filled the gap left by MGR on a number of levels.
Vauxhall Astra and Nissan Qashqai in the top 10 meaning there are also plenty of cars rolling off the production lines in the UK. That’s a positive out of it.
It doesn’t sound that mixed to me, overall sales for the ‘British’ marques are well up…
I would like to replace my car some time soon. I would like to buy an MG6 – I like the car and think it is excellent value. But just how committed are MG Motor to the UK? When was the last time you saw an advert for it? When will they start to look like they really mean it? It’s a lot of money for me to part with if they back out to concentrate on China and leave me with zero residual value and a financial liability.
I’d be very interested to see the next section of the sales charts down to at least position number 20.
Are those figures available please?
Didn’t realise the C-Class was in the top 10?
Though they generally aren’t driven like berks so they’re probably not as noticable as certain other ‘premium’ saloons.
Mark @ 4 – Really, given the sales figures and costs of advertising, MG Motor may as well just give you a car when you say please if they were going to spend money on campaigns at the moment. There’s no return on it for them. The motorsport is worthwhile as if they do well, it will give them an extra thing to advertise, but I doubt we’ll see any promotion until the diesel version is launched.
They’re certainly not going to leave the UK any time soon. But also, don’t worry about residuals. Either buy on PCP and hand it back (then it’s the finance company GMAC that has to deal with it), or buy outright and run the car until it’s dead. If residuals are part of your “buying a new car” equation and you’re not contract hiring/PCP buying – don’t buy a new car.
@7 Richard… I agree with most of your comments and advice. In my experience it’s best to buy a car about 1 year old – that way it is still an “almost new vehicle” but the previous owner has absorbed the first years heavy depreciation.
I see the current Focus is quite high up the sales charts although only recently am I seeing more on the roads and dealer forecourts. I guess it takes one year+ for a new model to get established. I wonder where MG fit into July’s figures?
Doh! Just seen MG sold 23 cars(?) – Read the article too quickly…
@9 – I reckon if I fashioned a car out of peach stones and cardboard I’d manage to sell 23 in a month…
am dam sure if mg took the 750 (zt,75) over to the uk it would out sell the 6!! its time mg uk pulled up there socks!!