PoloDriver

In the words of the marketing campaign for the Polo Vivo, Volkswagen Group South Africa has ‘so much to celebrate’. The Polo Vivo was the best-selling car brand in the country during 2010, with 23,297 units sold. The fifth-generation New Polo 6R also became a favourite with South Africans, finding 16,006 homes last year. 26,615 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa during December 2010, an increase of 38.9% when compared to the same period in 2009, while the full 2010 new passenger car market total was up 30.6% on 2009.

‘Volkswagen Group South Africa sold a total of 67 023 passenger cars in 2010 – growth of 34.3% over 2009 – 4% ahead of the total market year on year growth. With 19.9% of the total passenger market, Volkswagen Group SA was again passenger market leader,’ commented Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. ‘Notably, Polo Vivo was firmly established as South Africa’s top selling passenger car. The new Polo also ensured that the Volkswagen brand continues to dominate the affordable, entry level segment of the market. Given the outlook for 2011, we expect continued growth in demand for new vehicles.’

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 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 most basic 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the Polo Vivo is based on the facelifted version of the Series 4 Polo, built from 2005 to 2009. The New Polo is available as Trendline, Comfortline, BlueMotion and CrossPolo models, costing from R147,180 to R224,500.

After a two-month absence, the Polo is back in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars list, appearing at number eight with 3421 units sold. The latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that UK registrations fell by 11.5% in November 2010 to 139,875 units, but the market is still performing ahead of motor industry forecasts and is up 14.0% compared with the same period last year. The unstoppable Ford Fiesta once again topped November’s list, although the SMMT reports that demand for superminis has weakened since the scrappage scheme.

‘New car registrations fell by less than expected in November with demand from the fleet sector helping to offset the market re-balancing following the end of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme. Registrations are expected to fall again next month, but demand may benefit from motorists looking to avoid the January VAT rise. This factor, coupled with the strength of the first half of 2010, means year-end volumes are expected to lift to over 2.03 million units, 2% up from 2009,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for November 2010 and the year-to-date (total sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 6488 units (98,453, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 5537 units (73,973, 3rd)
3 Volkswagen Golf: 5220 units (54,849, 4th)
4 Vauxhall Astra: 4700 units (75,276, 2nd)
5 Vauxhall Insignia: 3915 units
6 BMW 3 Series: 3890 units (39,546, 8th)
7 Vauxhall Corsa: 3684 units (72,654, 4th)
8 Volkswagen Polo: 3421 units (41,793, 6th)
9 Peugeot 207: 3086 units (40,056, 7th)
10 Nissan Qashqai: 2555 units (36,207, 10th)

(The 2010 year-to-date best-seller absent from November’s sales figures was the Mini selling 37,647 units in 9th place.)

The latest NAAMSA figures have been released. During November 2010 a total of 29,530 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa, an increase of 28.9% when compared to November 2009, bringing the year-to-date November market in 2010 to a level 30% above the same period for last year. The Polo Vivo and fifth-generation Polo have contributed to Volkswagen South Africa’s strong finish to 2010, selling 1939 and 1265 units respectively.

‘As a result of record offline production from our plant in Uitenhage in October and November, we are finishing 2010 strongly,’ commented Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. ‘Polo Vivo has now become firmly entrenched as South Africa’s favourite passenger car brand, while the Polo sold 1265 units in November, rounding off a very successful performance for the two brands built in South Africa,’ Glendinning continued.

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 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 most basic 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the Polo Vivo is based on the facelifted version of the Series 4 Polo, built from 2005 to 2009. Changes include reprofiled front and rear bumpers, as well as a revised front grille and other minor bodywork-based alterations.

UK new car registrations continued their downward slide in October, according to the latest batch of figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The market is down 22.2% compared with last year; the steepest decline since May 2009. And while the Polo may be conspicuous by its absence from the monthly list of UK top 10 best-sellers, it still sold a considerable 2082 units last month. The baby VW still also stands firm when figures are calculated for the year-to-date, charting in sixth place with 38,372 units sold. The Ford Fiesta is once again the top-selling supermini, with 6024 cars sold in October 2010, while the Polo’s larger sibling, the Volkswagen Golf takes the runner-up place on the podium, with 5230 vehicles finding UK homes. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars (number of units sold) for 2010 year-to-date are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 91,965
2 Vauxhall Astra: 70, 576
3 Vauxhall Corsa: 68,970
4 Ford Focus: 68,436
5 Volkswagen Golf: 49,629
6 Volkswagen Polo: 38,372
7 Peugeot 207: 36,970
8 BMW 3 Series: 35, 653
9 Mini: 35,162
10 Nissan Qashqai: 33,652

Volkswagen Group South Africa performs ahead of the passenger market year-to-date, with the entry-level Polo Vivo once again the top-selling brand in October 2010. Selling 2576 units, the car remains South Africa’s favourite passenger car brand. Meanwhile, the New Polo maintained a good sales figure of 723 units, despite low October opening stock. Overall, 30,752 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa during October 2010, a total up 2.6% on September, and a rise of 25.1% when compared to the same period in 2009. The year-to-date October market in 2010 is 30.1% above the same period last year.

‘The Polo Vivo was again South Africa’s favourite brand, while the New Polo, the only South African manufactured SA 2010 Car of the Year finalist, had a good result, considering low October opening stock as a result of the industry-wide strikes in previous months,’ commented Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. ‘Volkswagen Group South Africa has increased passenger sales in the domestic market by 32% year-to-date versus 2009 – 1.9% ahead of the 30.1% total passenger market year-to-date growth, which is testament to our brand strength in a very competitive market,’ Glendinning continued.

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 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 most basic 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the Polo Vivo is based on the facelifted version of the Series 4 Polo, built from 2005 to 2009. Changes include front and rear bumpers, as well as a revised front grille and other minor bodywork alterations.