Evoque factor helps Land Rover defy UK new car sales slump

THE spectacular success of its new Evoque model has helped to turn around the fortunes of Land Rover in the UK, defying the national trend as a whole which shows sales declining in 2011.

Figures for 2011 show the 4×4 manufacturer sold 37,637 vehicles in the UK – 1% up on 2010 (37,272). However, up until the launch of the new model in September the firm had been trailing behind the previous 12 months – in June the group was down 11.5% on 2010.

Land Rover announced before Christmas it had received 40,000 advance orders for the multi-award winning Evoque and buyers who place orders now will have to wait until late April or May before they receive their vehicles, such is demand.

In December, Land Rover sold 2,747 vehicles, up almost 23% on the same month in 2010 – although the breakdown of models has not been released.

Stablemate Jaguar did not fare so well.

Despite strong global sales and the presence of the award-winning XF in its model range, the group saw sales dip more than 16% on 2010. In total, the group sold 13,787 models last year (2010: 16,417), claiming a 0.71% market share (2010: 0.81%). In December sales fell by a quarter (25.6%) at 813 (2010: 1,092).

Bitter rival BMW enjoyed a sales growth of 6.6% for the full year, compared with 2010. The German manufacturer sold 116,642 cars (2010: 109,418) to claim a market share of 6%. Its 3 Series was the UK’s eighth best selling model overall, at 42,471 cars.

The German group’s iconic Mini was also in the Top 10 best sellers, coming in at number 10 with 35,845 vehicles. Overall sales of the Mini – which include the cabriolet, Countryman, Crossover and coupe versions – topped 50,000. This contributed to a 14.2% improvement on 2010, leading to a market share of 2.58% (2010: 2.16).

Ford claimed top spot for the year, with 265,894 vehicles sold (2010: 280,364), a drop of 5% on the previous 12 months. Its Fiesta and Focus claimed numbers one and two respectively in the best selling models of the year.

Rival Vauxhall was runner up with 234,710 vehicles sold (2010: 247,265), a drop of 5%. Nevertheless, it claimed three models in the top 10 best sellers for the year – Corsa (3rd); Astra (5th); and Insignia (6th).

In the luxury sector fortunes were mixed. Aston Martin declined 5.2% at 1,024 (2010: 1.080), while Bentley saw an increase of 4.4% at 1,037 (2010: 993).

Overall, sales for the year were down 4.4% as new registrations dipped from 2.03m in 2010 to 1.94m during 2011.

Despite the fall, Paul Everitt, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, was bullish about industry prospects.

He said: “2011 proved to be a challenging year for the UK motor industry. Total new car registrations were slightly ahead of industry expectations at 1.94m units, still down 4.4% on 2010.

“Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012, but record numbers of new and updated models, significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies will help to encourage consumers into showrooms.

“Business and consumer confidence will be the key to a successful year, so it will be important that government delivers on its growth strategy and helps to resolve instability in the Eurozone.”

Other notable achievements during the year saw diesel and alternatively-fuelled cars take record shares of the market at respectively, 50.6% and 1.3%. Diesel volumes surpassed petrol engine vehicles for the first time.