PoloDriver

Will the success of the Polo Vivo ever come to an end? Even though it sold fewer units, the South African-only Vivo was once again the biggest-selling car brand in the country, with 2945 examples finding homes. The nearest challenger for the Vivo’s crown, the Toyota Yaris, was some way short of the mark, selling 2552 units, according to the latest figures from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). The association reported that total industry sales for the first two months of 2011 were 21.9% ahead of the corresponding two months in 2010. Special incentive packages offered by a number of manufacturers and importers during February also contributed to the rise in sales volumes.

‘Volkswagen Group South Africa captured 21.7% of the passenger market in February – with 7421 units sold. Polo Vivo was once again the top seller, with sales of 2945 units. The New Polo sold 1704 units in February,” said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. 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. Available as both a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines, two trim levels are available: base and Trendline. Costing from R104,065 for the 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo, built from 2005 to 2009.

The Polo has enjoyed a successful start to 2011 in terms of UK sales, and February’s figures point to it keeping up that momentum. The latest stats released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the country. While the Polo only dropped one place from January’s position, the larger Golf lead February’s charts from the Vauxhall Corsa and the Ford Focus. With a less than expected market fall, sales of 63,424 cars were not far off the same scrappage-boosted period last year. ‘February new car registrations were better than expected and while below 2010 levels, they were significantly ahead of 2009 and on an improving trend,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for February 2011 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Volkswagen Golf: 2709 units (6819, 4th)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 2617 units (6980, 3rd)
3 Ford Focus: 2483 units (10,065, 1st)
4 Ford Fiesta: 2404 units (8248, 2nd)
5 Vauxhall Astra: 2036 units (6546, 5th)
6 Vauxhall Insignia: 1842 units (4078, 7th)
7 Vauxhall Zafira: 1705 units (3343, 10th)
8 Volkswagen Polo: 1570 units (4580, 6th)
9 = Nissan Qashqai: 1367 units (3475, 9th)
9 = Vauxhall Meriva: 1367 units

(The 2011 best-seller absent from February’s sales figures is the BMW 3 Series selling 4038 units in 8th place.)

Following a successful 2010 in not only UK but also worldwide sales, January saw the Polo make an encouraging start to 2011’s UK volumes. The first set of 2011 figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) record that, in a market down 11.5%, Volkswagen sold 3010 Polos in January, putting in seventh place in the UK top 10 best sellers. The larger Golf was two places higher, selling 4110 examples. Once again, the Ford Fiesta was the top-selling supermini, in second place overall with 5844 units sold. ‘Despite the challenging conditions, the demand for low CO2 emitting and highly fuel efficient cars continues to grow,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for January 2011 and the year-to-date are as follows:

1 Ford Focus: 7582
2 Ford Fiesta: 5844
3 Vauxhall Astra: 4510
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 4363
5 Volkswagen Golf: 4110
6 BMW 3 Series: 3184
7 Volkswagen Polo: 3010
8 Vauxhall Insignia: 2236
9 Peugeot 207: 2171
10 Nissan Qashqai: 2108

Continuing its 2010 sales success, the Polo Vivo once again topped the passenger car market in South Africa last month. Volkswagen Group South Africa sold 2986 Polo Vivos in January 2011, comfortably securing the number one selling position. The company also leads the market in both total vehicle and passenger car sales, in a market up by 24% when compared to December 2010. ‘Volkswagen Group South Africa captured 24.1% of the passenger market – starting the New Year on a very positive note,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa.

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. Available as both a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines, two trim levels are available: base and Trendline. Costing from R104,065 for the 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo, built 2005 to 2009.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) latest set of UK car sales figures are in, and it’s good news for the Polo. Re-entering the top 10 in November 2010, it charts in sixth place for December. Even more encouragingly, it was the sixth best-selling car in the UK last year, selling 45,517 units, 8000 more than Volkswagen UK’s early forecasts. December saw 3724 Polos find UK buyers. Rival to the Polo, the Ford Fiesta, was two places down on November’s placings, selling 4560 units (the Vauxhall Astra was first with 5377), but the small Ford grabbed the 2010 overall best-seller title for the second successive year, shifting 103,013 examples. Ford was again the best-selling brand.

Registrations fell by 18.0% in December, with the market a little below expectations. If scrappage volumes were removed completely from the December 2009 tally, then the December 2010 figure would have been up almost 6,000 units or 4.8%. On a more positive note, the SMMT reports that the 2010 market rose by 35,847 units to 2,030,846 units, ending 1.8% up on 2009 figures. The market is forecast to decline by 5% in 2011 to 1.93 million units as difficult market conditions continue. ‘2010 was a year of recovery for the motor industry,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘Economic conditions remain challenging, but the industry expects demand to strengthen in the second half of the year.’

To see the Volkswagen Polo’s UK sales figures for 2010, visit our fifth-generation Polo ‘Heritage’ sales figures page here. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for December 2010 and the year (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Vauxhall Astra: 5377 (80,646, 2nd)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 4737 (77,398, 4th)
3 Ford Fiesta: 4560 (103,013, 1st)
4 Mini: 4236 (41,883, 9th)
5 Ford Focus: 3831 (77,804, 3rd)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 3724 (45,282, 6th)
7 Volkswagen Golf: 3267 (58,116, 5th)
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2841 (39,048, 10th)
9 Vauxhall Insignia: 2587
10 BMW 3 Series: 2477 (42,020, 8th)

(The 2010 best-seller absent from December’s sales figures is the Peugeot 207 selling 42,185 units in 7th place.)