PoloDriver

UK new car registrations continue to fall, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The market is down 8.9% compared to 2009, but when compared to the same period last year, the SMMT states that the volumes sold are actually 16.3% ahead. And while the Polo may have dropped from the monthly list of UK top 10 best-sellers for the first time since January 2010 (we suspect that the delivery delays being reported have a part to play), it stands firm when volumes are calculated for the year-to-date, sitting in sixth place with 36,290 units sold. The Ford Fiesta is still the top-selling supermini, with 19,078 cars sold in September 2010, while the Vauxhall Corsa takes the runner-up place, with 14,249 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: 85,941
2 Vauxhall Astra: 66,104
3 Vauxhall Corsa: 65,396
4 Ford Focus: 64,548
5 Volkswagen Golf: 44,399
6 Volkswagen Polo: 36,290
7 Peugeot 207: 34,798
8 Mini: 32,376
9 BMW 3 Series: 31,698
10 Nissan Qashqai: 30,477

Not for the first time, the Polo Vivo held onto its best-selling car in South Africa crown last month, despite a 10.5% decrease in passenger car sales being reported which is also mentioned in various car reviews too. A total of 29,993 new cars were sold in the country, a 26% increase on September 2009. Volkswagen South Africa’s entry-level Polo Vivo sold 1939 units, while both it and the fifth-generation New Polo produced at the company’s Uitenhage factory faced build delays, attributed to strikes by motor industry component supplier workers.

‘Despite significant stock shortages as a result of recent industry wide strikes, the Polo Vivo range continued to dominate the entry segment with sales of 1,939 units,’ said Mike Glendinning, Volkswagen Group South Africa Sales and Marketing Director. ‘Supply of both the new Polo and Polo Vivo ranges, manufactured in our Uitenhage plant, was adversely impacted by the prolonged industry strikes. While down on what was an exceptionally buoyant month of new passenger car sales in August, the September new passenger car market performed well, supported by seasonally strong demand from rental car companies.’

The Polo Vivo, which was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market. Available as both a hatchback and saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre units, two trim levels are available: base and Trendline. Costing from R104,065 for the most basic 1.4 model, 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 revisions.

The entry-level Volkswagen in South Africa, the Polo Vivo, retained its crown as the best-selling passenger car brand in August 2010, with 2958 units finding homes. In addition, 1236 fifth-generation New Polos were sold. ‘Despite the eight-day motor industry strike last month, Volkswagen of South Africa continued to dominate the passenger car market with 19.4% share and total sales of 6527 units. We are still very encouraged by the reaction from the market to our new uniquely South African entry-level Polo Vivo,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen of South Africa.

A total of 33,541 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa during August 2010. Total new passenger car sales in August, including sales not reported in detail to trade body NAAMSA, increased by 14.8% when compared to July 2010, and by 49.6% when compared to August 2009, bringing the year-to-date August market in 2010 to a level 31.4% above the same period for 2009. Significantly, the Volkswagen Group’s passenger car sales year-to-date, are 37.6% ahead of the same period in 2009 – stronger than the market’s 31.4%.

‘New passenger car sales performed strongly in August recording the largest monthly market since January 2008 with the selling rate of new cars per day reaching levels last experienced in October 2007. While August is traditionally a relatively good month for new passenger car sales, the exceptional buoyancy of the market in August 2010 can in all probability be ascribed to a combination of seasonally strong demand from rental car companies and a buy ahead of the introduction of the CO2 vehicle emissions tax on 1 September 2010. It is estimated that the introduction of the CO2 vehicle emissions tax will result in an increase of new vehicle pricing of 2.5% on average,’ added Glendinning.

According to the latest batch of figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK new car registrations fell again in August, as widely predicted. However, ahead of the ‘60’ plate change, the market remains up 13.2% over the first eight months of 2009, but with figures down 17.5 % last month, we’re pleased to report that the Polo remains in the UK’s top-sellers list. In ninth place, the fifth-generation car charts at the same position as in July, selling 1193 units. The Polo’s long-standing rival, the Ford Fiesta continues to be top of the August charts, with 2260 units sold, in what is traditionally the lowest-selling month for new cars due to the 1 September plate change.

‘New car registrations were down 17.5% in August and conditions will remain challenging through the rest of the year,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. ‘The industry enjoyed a better than expected first half of the year and, despite the difficulties, SMMT is forecasting that new car registrations will close just ahead of 2009 figures.’ Diesel cars still outsold petrol models, with 29,111 derv-burners shifted, compared to 25,505 petrol-powered models. Turned into year-to-date figures, the numbers make even more interesting reading; petrol models are still ahead with 709,151 units sold, compared to 576,627 diesel cars.

The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for August 2010 and the year-to-date (total sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 2260 units (66,863, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 1926 units (54,448, 2nd)
3 Vauxhall Astra: 1906 units (53,449, 3rd)
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 1629 units (51,447, 4th)
5 BMW 3 Series: 1600 units (25,849, 8th)
6 Volkswagen Golf: 1511 units (37,171, 5th)
7 Nissan Qashqai: 1456 units (24,836, 10th)
8 Vauxhall Insignia: 1193 units
9 Volkswagen Polo: 1193 units (30,574, 6th)
10 Audi A3: 1037 units

(The 2010 year-to-date best-sellers absent from August’s sales figures were the Peugeot 207 selling 27,880 units in 7th place, and the Mini with 25,189 units, placing it 9th overall.)

According to the latest set of figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK new car registrations fell in July, the first time in a year following 12 successive monthly rises. The market remains up 15.1% over the first seven months of 2009 however, and with figures down 13.2% last month, we’re pleased to report that the Polo remains in the UK’s best-sellers list. Charting in ninth place, the fifth-generation car is one position higher than June’s placing, with 2897 examples sold. The Polo’s long-standing rival, the Ford Fiesta continues to be a success story for Ford, and was once again top of the July charts, selling 6695 units.

‘A drop in private registrations compared to the scrappage-fuelled months of 2009 was expected and has brought the first market decline for 12 months,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘Subdued consumer confidence and a still fragile economic recovery make the outlook for the remainder of 2010 challenging, but a stronger than expected first half means full year volumes are still forecast to exceed 2009’s total.’ Alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFV) and diesel-fuelled cars both achieved record market shares in July, with AFV volumes rising by 52.6% to take a 1.4% market share and diesel volumes up 11.8% to take a market share of 50.6%. Petrol car registrations as well as supermini and mini segment volumes fell sharply.

The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for July 2010 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 6695 (64,203, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Astra: 4919 (51,543, 3rd)
3 Vauxhall Corsa: 4714 (49,518, 4th)
4 Ford Focus: 4208 (52,522, 2nd)
5 Nissan Qashqai: 4136 (23,380, 10th)
6 Volkswagen Golf: 4082, (35,660, 5th)
7 BMW 3 Series: 3817 (24,249, 9th)
8 Vauxhall Insignia: 2941
9 Volkswagen Polo: 2897 (29,381, 6th)
10 Vauxhall Zafira: 2875

(The 2010 year-to-date best-sellers absent from July’s sales figures were the Peugeot 207 selling 26,915 units in 7th place, and the Mini with 24,500 units, putting it in 8th place overall.)