Scots new car sales fall 07 | 12 | 2015
NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS in Scotland dropped marginally in November compared with the same month in 2014. Despite that slight setback, overall sales so far this year are up.
Last month, sales were down just 0.7% on November 2014, but the year-to-date sales currently stand at 208,754 a 0.2% increase on the same period for 2014.
The drop in Scotland is in contrast to the rest of the UK which enjoyed an increase of 4.17% for the month and 6.79% year-to-date.
Vauxhall continues to lead the sales charts in Scotland, with 27,269 models registered so far this year, an increase of 469 on 2014. The manufacturer has also seen its market share in Scotland grow from 12.86% in the opening 11 months of 2014, to 13.06% this year.
Ford sits comfortably in second place, with sales so far this year of 23,937, a drop of 1622 on 2014, which coincides with a fall in market share from 12.27% last year, to 11.47% in 2015.
Volkswagen, despite the fallout from the global emissions scandal, holds third in the top 10, with sales this year of 17,036, up 85 on the corresponding 11 months of 2014. It has also retained its market share, 8.16% this year versus 8.14% in 2014.
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The top 10 is completed by Audi (12,543/6.01% in 2015); Renault (11,266/5.4%); BMW (9904/4.74%); Peugeot (8225/3.94%); Nissan (8168/3.91%); Mercedes (8104/3.88%) and Toyota (7116/3.41%).
While the Vauxhall Corsa was again the topseller in Scotland last month with 687 units, Renault and Dacia delivered strong results. The Dacia Sandero was the second topseller, just 36 behind the Corsa, with the Renault Captur and Clio holding third and fourth places respectively.
Overall this year, the Vauxhall Corsa remains the bestseller with 11,554 units, up 1768 on the opening 11 months of 2014.
Ford holds the next two slots with the Fiesta (9413/down from 10,357 in 2014) and Focus (5735/7131), followed by the VW Polo (5550/4776) and Vauxhall Mokka (4936/3537).
The top 10 is completed by the VW Golf (4546/4980); Renault Clio (4422/5378); Fiat 500 (4230/5190); Vauxhall Astra (3988/5877) and Dacia Sandero (3922/2930).
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Across the regions, Lothian has currently seen the biggest increase in registrations this year, up 2.92% from 24,748 in the first 11 months of 2014 to 25,470. Strathclyde though continues to be the largest market in Scotland with 108,222 vehicles registered so far this year, an increase of 2.56%.
“We are obviously disappointed to see a slight downturn in the new vehicle registrations for November," Sandy Burgess, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association said.
"However we shouldn’t lose track of the fact the year-to-date figures for Scotland show an increase of 0.2% on 2014, despite the current challenges around several of the higher volume manufacturers.
"I would be reasonably confident we will now see 2015 ending on a figure very similar to 2014 which, given the aforementioned challenges, will be a most welcome outcome for the industry.
"Our dealers are, as always, able to react to the challenges of a changing market and I am sure they will continue to offer both exciting and tempting consumer options for new car purchases. Along with the availability of low cost finance, this means continued availability of excellent deals to consumers.”
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Jim McGill