Top 10: UK car sales 2018 - winners and losers

2018 was a great year for a few manufacturers in the UK, even though total new car registrations dropped by 6.8% to 2,367,147 units. However, many others had a fairly disastrous time. They lost volume due to various factors including the introduction of the WLTP emissions testing regime, the shift away from diesel and simply not having enough desirable model types.

Indeed, demand for crossovers and SUVs continued to grow, something that especially benefited Chinese-owned MG. Its deliveries more than doubled compared to 2017’s figure.

MG ZS (2018) Front Side

Spanish brand Seat once again recorded a noteworthy increase, while Volvo and Jaguar both demonstrated that not all buyers of ‘premium’ products want something German.

Top 10: Total UK Car Registrations 2018 - Winners
Manufacturer 2018 2017 Change Change %
MG 9,049 4,441 4,608 103.8%
Mitsubishi 21,156 16,092 5,064 31.5%
Abarth 5,631 4,441 1,190 26.8%
Subaru 3,141 2,679 462 17.3%
Seat 62,863 56,130 6,733 12.0%
McLaren 626 567 59 10.4%
Volvo 50,319 46,139 4,180 9.1%
Jaguar 37,019 35,544 1,475 4.2%
Kia 95,764 93,222 2,542 2.7%
Mazda 39,602 39,092 510 1.3%
Total Market 2,367,147 2,540,617 -173,470 -6.8%

At the other end of the spectrum, Infiniti – which actually shifted fewer vehicles than either Maserati or Aston Martin during 2018 – almost disappeared from the registrations league table.

Infiniti Q50 (2018) Front Side

The dismal performances posted by Nissan and Audi were undoubtedly the most significant, though. That no major rivals experienced similar percentage reductions merely made their plights worse.

Top 10: Total UK Car Registrations 2018 - Losers
Manufacturer 2018 2017 Change Change %
Infiniti 750 3,515 -2,765 -78.7%
DS 5,074 9,082 -4,008 -44.1%
Chevrolet 41 70 -29 -41.4%
Nissan 102,637 151,156 -48,519 -32.1%
Smart 7,631 10,323 -2,692 -26.1%
Maserati 1,297 1,701 -404 -23.8%
SsangYong 2,754 3,590 -836 -23.3%
Fiat 35,652 44,475 -8,823 -19.8%
Audi 143,739 174,982 -31,243 -17.9%
Alfa Romeo 4,161 4,997 -836 -16.7%
Total Market 2,367,147 2,540,617 -173,470 -6.8%

Related posts:
Top 10: UK car sales 2018
Top 10: UK car sales 2017 - winners and losers
Top 10: UK car sales 2017

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