UK car sales fall in August 2010, but Polo still in the top 10 top-sellers
According to the latest batch of figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK new car registrations fell again in August, as widely predicted. However, ahead of the ‘60’ plate change, the market remains up 13.2% over the first eight months of 2009, but with figures down 17.5 % last month, we’re pleased to report that the Polo remains in the UK’s top-sellers list. In ninth place, the fifth-generation car charts at the same position as in July, selling 1193 units. The Polo’s long-standing rival, the Ford Fiesta continues to be top of the August charts, with 2260 units sold, in what is traditionally the lowest-selling month for new cars due to the 1 September plate change.
‘New car registrations were down 17.5% in August and conditions will remain challenging through the rest of the year,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. ‘The industry enjoyed a better than expected first half of the year and, despite the difficulties, SMMT is forecasting that new car registrations will close just ahead of 2009 figures.’ Diesel cars still outsold petrol models, with 29,111 derv-burners shifted, compared to 25,505 petrol-powered models. Turned into year-to-date figures, the numbers make even more interesting reading; petrol models are still ahead with 709,151 units sold, compared to 576,627 diesel cars.
The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for August 2010 and the year-to-date (total sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:
1 Ford Fiesta: 2260 units (66,863, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 1926 units (54,448, 2nd)
3 Vauxhall Astra: 1906 units (53,449, 3rd)
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 1629 units (51,447, 4th)
5 BMW 3 Series: 1600 units (25,849, 8th)
6 Volkswagen Golf: 1511 units (37,171, 5th)
7 Nissan Qashqai: 1456 units (24,836, 10th)
8 Vauxhall Insignia: 1193 units
9 Volkswagen Polo: 1193 units (30,574, 6th)
10 Audi A3: 1037 units
(The 2010 year-to-date best-sellers absent from August’s sales figures were the Peugeot 207 selling 27,880 units in 7th place, and the Mini with 25,189 units, placing it 9th overall.)
