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It’s a story of continuing success for the South African-only Polo Vivo. Once again Volkswagen Group South Africa’s entry-level model sat atop the passenger car sales charts during November 2012, with 2697 units sold. Nestling alongside its lower-priced sibling, the Polo 6R was again a top-seller, too, coming in second with 2376 cars finding homes. Overall, Volkswagen Group South Africa delivered a total of 8300 units to its customers and achieved a passenger car market share of 22.6 per cent, making it the top-selling manufacturer.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R108,300 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R154,700 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2012 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo (6R) is available as both a three and five-door hatchback, in addition to the more traditionally-styled four-door Polo Sedan.

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While the Volkswagen Golf was once again Europe’s best-selling car in October according to the latest figures released by Jato Dynamics, the Polo still posted an entry in the top five of the sales chart. Last month, 22,817 Polos were sold, putting in fifth place, and making it the fourth best-selling small car behind the Ford Fiesta, the new Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio. However, when year-to-date sales are taken into account, the Polo trumps them all bar the Fiesta, and sits in third place – the Golf is 2012’s best-selling car in Europe with one month to go. The German company also had two more reasons to celebrate – its Tiguan SUV and Up city car saw improved sales when compared to the same period last year. New car sales in Europe fell again last month, but at a slower rate. Europe’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during October 2012 and for the year-to-date (unit sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Volkswagen Golf: 33,156 (373,036, 1st)
2 Ford Fiesta: 26,145 (264,122, 2nd)
3 Peugeot 208: 23,352
4 Renault Clio: 23,301 (203,388, 6th)
5 Volkswagen Polo: 22,817 (247,519, 3rd)
6 Opel/Vauxhall Corsa: 18,649 (229,563, 4th)
7 Opel/Vauxhall Astra: 18,079 (200,865, 7th)
8 Ford Focus: 17,779 (207,715, 5th)
9 Fiat Panda: 17,377
10 Nissan Qashqai: 16,720 (177,795, 8th)

(The 2012 year-to-date Europe top 10 best-selling cars absent from October’s sales figures are the Renault Megane in ninth place with 169,356 units sold and the Volkswagen Passat, selling 166,297 units in tenth place.)

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It may have slipped one place down the charts, but the Polo remained in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars during October. Rounding out the top 10 in 10th place, the Polo sold 2952 units according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Registrations rose by 12.1 per cent in October, and the demand for small cars saw an upturn, with the Polo’s supermini segment growing by 5.8 per cent. Once again, the Ford Fiesta was October’s best-selling car and the year-to-date.

‘Despite uncertainty in the European economy, the UK new car market continues to grow, with registrations rising to 151,252 units in October,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘It is encouraging to see the alternatively-fuelled vehicle market performing strongly, too, up 13 per cent so far this year. It is vital that government sustains its consumer incentive programme and maximises the benefits available through the vehicle taxation system.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during October 2012 and for the year-to-date (unit sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 8058 (96,805, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 6285 (78,760, 2nd)
3 Ford Focus: 5834 (70,335, 3rd)
4 Vauxhall Astra: 5754 (52,879, 5th)
5 Volkswagen Golf: 4158 (54,300, 4th)
6 BMW 3 Series: 3762 (38,102, 7th)
7 Nissan Qashqai: 3567 (39,432, 6th)
8 BMW 1 Series: 3029
9 Mini: 2970
10 Volkswagen Polo: 2952 (36,939, 8th)

(The 2012 year-to-date top 10 best-selling cars absent from October’s sales figures are the Mercedes C-Class in ninth place with 32,427 units sold and the Fiat 500, selling 29,215 units in tenth place.)

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The entry-level Polo Vivo and its more upmarket Polo 6R cousin have helped Volkswagen Group South Africa keep its top position in the passenger car sales market in October 2012. The Polo Vivo took a third of the company’s total sales, with 3341 cars sold, while the latest generation Polo 6R managed to find 2883 homes. Volkswagen Group South Africa sold 9426 units in total, giving it a market share of 22.6 per cent.

‘In October, the South African new car market surged to the third highest level on record despite widespread and ongoing socio-political uncertainties,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director, Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa. ‘The demand for new passenger cars has reached levels comparable with the peak of the previous growth cycle in the third quarter of 2006 and continues to be driven by powerful factors.’

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The Polo once again held onto its place in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars during September. In ninth place last month, the Polo sold 7291 units according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). An 8.2 per cent rise on figures published for the same month last year, 359,612 ‘62’-plate cars were registered in September. The month is traditionally the second busiest of the month after March. Once again, the Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car of the month, and the year-to-date.

‘The important September plate change market outperformed expectations with new car registrations increasing on last year,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘Although the economic outlook remains challenging, we are starting to see a tentative return of consumer confidence as motorists explore new products and the latest fuel-efficient technologies.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during September 2012 and for the year-to-date (unit sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 18,651 (88,747, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 17,089 (72,475, 2nd)
3 Ford Focus: 13,837 (64,251, 3rd)
4 Vauxhall Astra: 9864 (47,125, 5th)
5 Volkswagen Golf: 9270 (50,142, 4th)
6 Mercedes C-Class: 7948 (29,772 9th)
7 BMW 3 Series: 7726 (34,340, 7th)
8 Nissan Qashqai: 7471 (35,865 6th)
9 Volkswagen Polo: 7291 (33,987, 8th)
10 Peugeot 208: 6741

The 2012 year-to-date top 10 best-selling car absent from September’s sales figures is the Fiat 500 selling 26,480 units in tenth place.)

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