JANUARY UK SALES - NISSAN - fastest growing brand by market share, mmm, iffy !

• Fastest growing brand by market share compared with the same time last year
• Nissan car registrations reach over 11,000 for first month of the year – the best ever January in the company’s history
• UK-built stars – Qashqai, Juke, Note, and LEAF – reach highest ever January volume
• Company soars to fourth place in the UK’s top-selling brands
• January share of the passenger car market hits record high of 6.72%

Nissan Motor GB Limited has recorded its best ever start to a year with 11,076 cars sold in January – an increase of 25.9% or 2,277 registrations over the same period last year.

The company also stormed to its highest ever share of the January passenger car market at 6.72%, with the award-winning all-new Qashqai continuing its segment domination with over 4,500 sales.

Also at the heart of this sales success was Nissan’s other UK-built stars – the 100% electric LEAF, the Note, and the Juke – which all soared to their highest ever January registrations.

Nissan bolstered its position as the fastest growing brand in the UK with a total market share increase of 1%. This increased share of the car market puts the company at fourth position in the UK.

Helping to drive sales was Nissan’s diverse range of crossovers including the Qashqai, Juke and all-new X-TRAIL. Nissan continued to dominate this fast-growing category registering almost 8,000 units a 32% increase over the same period last year.

This powerful start to the year continues on from the company’s record-breaking 2014, during which 138,338 cars were sold – a 17% increase over 2013’s full year sales.

TMW - Its that time of the month - UK JANUARY 2015 sales figures

JAGUAR

JANUARY 2014 1093 sales - JANUARY 2015 800 sales -26.81%

YTD 2014 1093 sales - YTD 2015 800 sales -26.81%

LAND ROVER

JANUARY 2014 4384 sales - JANUARY 2015 4303 sales -1.85%

YTD 2014 4384 sales - YTD 2015 4303 sales -1.85%

JAGUAR LAND ROVER CUMULATIVE

JANUARY 2014 5477 sales - JANUARY 2015 5103 sales -6.83%

YTD 2014 5477 sales - YTD 2015 5103 sales -6.83%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

JANUARY 2014 7923 sales - JANUARY 2015 8008 sales +1.07%
YTD 2014 7923 sales - YTD 2015 8008 sales +1.07%

MERCEDES

JANUARY 2014 7792 sales - JANUARY 2015 9348 sales +19.97%

YTD 2014 7792 sales - YTD 2015 9348 sales +19.97%

LEXUS

JANUARY 2014 670 sales - JANUARY 2015 1006 sales +50.15%

YTD 2014 670 sales - YTD 2015 1006 sales +50.15%

AUDI

JANUARY 2014 10747 sales - JANUARY 2015 11354 sales +5.65% 

YTD 2014 10747 sales - YTD 2015 11354 sales +5.65%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +60.24%

DACIA +17.99%

HONDA +12.57%

HYUNDAI +14.42%
JEEP +67.16%

KIA +4.66%

MASERATI +82.54%
MAZDA +19.20%

MINI +11.09%
MITSUBISHI +159.03%

NISSAN +25.88%

PORSCHE +21.39%

RENAULT +6.57%

SEAT +12.91%
SKODA +1.13% 

SSANGYONG +28.72%

SUBARU +29.69%
SUZUKI +2.60%
TOYOTA +8.72%

VAUXHALL +13.72%

VOLVO +33.67%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ALFA ROMEO -20.54%
ASTON MARTIN -10.00%

BENTLEY -16.77%
CHEVROLET -100.00%

CHRYSLER -50.43%

CITROEN -1.04%
FIAT -0.92%
FORD -1.43%
INFINITI -7.58%
LOTUS -18.75%

MG -2.17%
MIA -100.00%
PERODUA -100.00%

PEUGEOT -5.78%

PROTON -100.00%

SMART -33.33%
VOLKSWAGEN -3.07%

After what was a great year in 2014 for the majority of brands, 2015 starts off in the same vein, however it does have to be said that there is a near 100% increase in brands that have not increased their January sales over last year, but those that did, made up for those lost sales and in fact last month there was over Ten Thousand more cars registered than the same month last year.

The Fiesta again takes top spot as it generally does, with the Corsa second, it does have to be noted that the Corsa is now significantly ahead of the Focus, which seems to be slipping down the charts, Nissan takes 4th with the Qashqai and a brace of VW Group cars take fifth and sixth, the Golf and A3, Mercs nice arrival in the top is a welcome change from the usual suspects, with the Polo at 8 Fiats little 500 at 9, and rounding out the top ten is the Astra.

Last Years big percentage winner MG has taken a huge turn the other way from being many hundreds of %age points up, to dropping down by a couple in January, the latest advertising for the MG3 might help it in the coming months, but i fear, until the mew MG CS and MG GT arrive, sales will continue this way.

Vauxhall have shown us what a little bit of hard work and a lot of money can do by shifting up a gear and selling over two thousand more cars in Jan, than a year ago, the new Corsa is carrying on where the old one left off, and the Astra is struggling along with an all new model later this year, but it is the Meriva and Mokka that are doing good business, and I would like to think that the all new Viva due shortly will also help to get Vauxhall even further closer to Ford, although catching them is one thing, over taking them is another.

It also has to be mentioned that January saw a huge 60% increase in Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles (AFV), so cars like the Renault Zoe & Twizy, Nissan's LEAF, the Prius from Toyota and the big surprise the Outlander PHEV from Mitsubishi, which is probably the first SUV/Crossover that can beat the others at their own game, talking of SUV/Crossovers, this segment is showing signs of growth still, with brands that have as yet to enter this market, bring cars soon, Skoda, SEAT, Bentley, Lamborghini and Jaguar to name a few.

As for our brands of choice, oh dear, both Land Rover and Jaguar are down, and this will continue as Land Rover has nothing new to offer until the Discovery Sport comes on stream in a couple of months, likewise for Jaguar with the XE, and new XF at the year end, and F-Pace which should get its full finished look reveal this year, ready for an on sale date early next.

Well, that's it for the first month of the year, some surprises as usual, and a few decent sales numbers from some brands too, Vauxhall, Subaru and Ssangyong are all great to see grow, and it is a shame that Peugeot and Lotus, along with Bentley have all dropped sales, but this is only the first of 12 months, so expect more changes and surprises as the months pass us by.

JON MOWER

SEAT celebrates a sixth successive year of growth, with more to come.

• 18% sales growth sees SEAT UK achieve sixth UK sales record in a row – posting 53,512 registrations in 2014, up 8,200 units on 2013
• Records smashed across the board for SEAT retail and fleet sales, UK car market share, as well as Ibiza and Leon sales
• Market share up almost two percentage points to 2.16%
• Performance in retail sales up by impressive 24.2% to 29,901 and 11.2% in fleet to 23,611
• Buoyant Leon range sales, plus impressive return from ever-popular Ibiza family drive the sporty Spanish carmarker to best ever UK performance
• SEAT international sales increased by over 10% in same period

For the sixth consecutive year, SEAT has smashed its UK sales record. Selling 53,512 cars in total, the sporty Spanish brand gained 18.1% on 2013. Outpacing the UK car market’s own growth by nearly 100%, the firm narrowly missed out on chasing down both Honda and MINI, with market share up too, from 2% to 2.16%.

Just as crucially, SEAT performed well in the right channels. Its retail sales rocketed upwards by almost a quarter to 29,901, while its fleet team more than held its own, posting 23,611 sales, a substantial increase of 11.2% on the 21,239 in 2013.

Within SEAT’s six–model line-up, the Leon family led the charge, outstripping the iconic Ibiza for the first time. With 23,125 sales, no doubt its sizeable awards haul in 2014, as well as the full year impacts of its SC (Sports Coupé) and ST (Sports Tourer) derivatives aided its 50.8% gain on the year before. Chasing it hard was the three-model Ibiza range, ending the year on 22,500. Again, shattering another SEAT UK record, up 13.8% on 2013.

Commenting on its latest set of impressive sales figures, SEAT UK Director Neil Williamson, said, “To set another sales record in the UK is fantastic and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the SEAT UK team, as well as our dealer partners, in achieving such a superb result for 2014. There’s a real sense of momentum with our brand at the moment, which we’ll be looking to capitalise on in the months ahead, with unsurprisingly, yet more ambitious growth targets to hit.

“We’ve made great strides in fleet and retail over the last couple of years, so as well as cementing our position in both in 2015, the most pleasing thing for me will be the upgrading of our UK dealer network. It’s a huge undertaking to install our new corporate identity across  130-plus sites, but I’m confident the more modern and upmarket look will allow us to deliver an even greater customer experience, in line with the desirability and high quality of our cars.”

SEAT delivered 390,500 cars internationally in 2014

SEAT ended 2014 having delivered 390,500 internationally, 10% more than in 2013 (355,000), its best achievement since 2007. As a result, SEAT has accumulated 21.7% growth in the last two years alone, having found homes for almost 70,000 vehicles more than in 2012 (321,000). 

The UK cemented its position as the brand’s third largest market, behind Spain and Germany.

SEAT sales have been largely boosted by the Leon family. In 2014, it saw a 50% increase, rising to 154,100 units, 51,300 more than the previous year. 

Since the launch of the new generation in 2012 – the first with three different bodystyles – the Leon has more than doubled its sales, and has posted a 116% increase (2012: 71,200 vehicles). It has also achieved the best sales results since its launch in 1999, and for the first time has replaced the Ibiza as SEAT’s best-selling car.

The ST estate version of the Leon, launched at the end of 2013, accounted for a healthy volume of 47,100 units – 30.5% of the model’s overall figure. The brand’s MPV, the SEAT Alhambra, also achieved double-digit growth in 2014, exceeding 23,000 units (23,100; +15.6%).

SEAT Executive Committee Chairman Jürgen Stackmann, made a satisfactory assessment of these results. “For the second year running SEAT sales have seen double-digit growth. 

The Leon family has been a turning point in our history. It has become the second pillar of the brand and has opened the door to new customers.” Stackmann said of 2015: “Our goal is to consolidate growth. The range is going to grow and be renewed this year, starting with the models we already have, and we are getting ready for the immediate future – the arrival of the compact SUV in 2016.”

TMW - Its that time of the month - UK NOVEMBER 2014 sales figures

JAGUAR

OCTOBER 2013 1017 sales - OCTOBER 2014 1291 sales +26.94%

YTD 2013 15217 sales - YTD 2014 17045 sales +12.01%

LAND ROVER

OCTOBER 2013 3806 sales - OCTOBER 2014 3370 sales -11.46%

YTD 2013 51687 sales - YTD 2014 52548 sales +1.67%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

OCTOBER 2013 10307 sales - OCTOBER 2014 12355 sales +19.87%
YTD 2013 124113 sales - YTD 2014 136433 sales +9.93%

MERCEDES

OCTOBER 2013 7867 sales - OCTOBER 2014 8808 sales +11.96%

YTD 2013 102837sales - YTD 2014 116645 sales +13.43%

LEXUS

OCTOBER 2013 616 sales - OCTOBER 2131 1138 sales +84.74%

YTD 2013 8385 sales - YTD 2014 10863 sales +29.55%

AUDI

OCTOBER 2013 9617 sales - OCTOBER 2014 11594 sales +20.56% 

YTD 2013 134598 sales - YTD 2014 150974 sales +12.17%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +16.80%

BENTLEY +17.99%

CITROEN +5.01%

DACIA +48.08%

FIAT +12.52%

FORD +5.07%

HYUNDAI +7.27%
INFINITI +82.74%

JEEP +76.02%

KIA +7.78%

LOTUS +19.17%

MASERATI +259.08%
MAZDA +21.09%

MG +472.40%

MIA +0.00%
MITSUBISHI +74.41%

NISSAN +16.81%

PORSCHE +11.55%

RENAULT +49.93%

SEAT +18.98%
SKODA +16.58% 

SSANGYONG +133.44%

SUBARU +24.41%
SUZUKI +14.68%
TOYOTA +5.64%

VAUXHALL +3.31%

VOLKSWAGEN +11.09%

VOLVO +27.22%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ALFA ROMEO -3.35%
ASTON MARTIN -6.72%

CHEVROLET -75.41%

CHRYSLER -25.67%

HONDA -4.22%

MINI -2.99%

PERODUA -85.85%

PEUGEOT -1.15%

PROTON -95.00%

SMART -13.59%

Well, we are nearly there, just a couple more weeks to go until the end of another great year in the world of motoring, we have seen some stunning new models arrive this year, and some disappointments too, The XE being our biggest let down, followed by the Discovery Sport, I have no doubt they will sell well, but they have both lost there way, and in the case of the Disco, the prices are a total joke, LR are just cashing in now, and i suspect people are not that stupid as to fall for it, or are they !

Lets not forget that we also have the Discovery 5, New Defender, re-freshed XJ, AWD versions of the F-Type, Long Wheelbase versions of the XF, possible Evoque Convertible (god I hope not), and the all new Jaguar X-Q Type, the expansion of the Ingenium engine range, the storming SVR Range Rover Sport, and an all new range of striped out RR/LR models which take the cars back to basics, and expect some more news on the classic side of things too.

Next year is going to be even bigger, we already know that the new XF will appear towards the year end, Vauxhall has the new Corsa, Viva and Astra, so 2015 will be the biggest year for them, in decades, 2014 has been great, but expect far more in the coming months, We expect to see the Bentley SUV, and a concept model below the the Flying Spur, which will become its entry range, a possible concept launch of the Rolls SUV may be in the offing too.

We expect infiniti to come close to over taking Jaguar next year, they are already sniffing at the back door in November, and will continue to increase sales as new models are launched, Alfa will have a few surprises up its sleeves, as well as Maserati and its new Sports car, the Alfieri, The French trio have very little on the horizon, as 2014 was a busy year for all three, but we may see concept Scenics, Megane, new DS3 concept, possibly the DS SUV might make it to Europe after all, and Peugeot have a number of sporty models to launch, if no all new metal.

Most of the German brands have new metal, the new Passat, Q7, BMW M4, X4, Merc GLE, Skoda and SEAT will have their respective SUV's touted around next year and then we have the Grand Ferrari Sell Off, the continued struggles for Aston and Lotus, the will they wont they be re-appearing in F1 for Caterham and Marussia, it looking like a great year again for all things motoring.