TMW - Its that time of the month - UK January sales figures

JAGUAR

JANUARY 2013 1207 sales - JANUARY 2014 1093 sales -9.44%

YTD 2013 1207 sales - YTD 2014 1092 sales -9.44%

LAND ROVER

JANUARY 2013 4665 sales - JANUARY 2014 4384 sales -6.02%
YTD 2013 4665 sales - YTD 2014 4384 sales -6.02%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

JANUARY 2013 6279 sales - JANUARY 2014 7923 sales +26.18%
YTD 2013 6279 sales - YTD 2014 7923 sales +26.18%

MERCEDES

JANUARY 2013 6750 sales - JANUARY 2014 7792 sales +15.44%
YTD 2013 6750 sales - YTD 2014 7792 sales +15.44%

LEXUS

JANUARY 2013 537 sales - JANUARY 2014 670 sales +24.77%
YTD 2013 537 sales - YTD 2014 670 sales +24.77%

AUDI

JANUARY 2013 9848 sales -JANUARY 2014 10747 sales +55.50%
YTD 2013 9848 sales - YTD 2014 10747 sales +13.26%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +0.00%

BENTLEY +93.75%

CITROEN +14.96%

DACIA +367.01%

FIAT +26.02%

FORD +10.96%

HYUNDAI +4.13%
INFINITI +312.50%

JEEP +64.75%

KIA +4.96%

LOTUS +300.00%
MAZDA +19.27%

MASERATI +152.00%
MAZDA +30.69%

MG +345.16%

MIA +100.00%
MINI +21.63% 

MITSUBISHI +46.03%

PORSCHE +16.89%

RENAULT +19.41%

SEAT +35.85%
SKODA +25.35% 

SSANGYONG +235.71%

SUBARU +21.90%
SUZUKI +9.09%
TOYOTA +1.00%

VOLKSWAGEN +24.88%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ALFA ROMEO -10.54%

ASTON MARTIN -50.00%

CHEVROLET -0.14%

CHRYSLER -19.58%

HONDA -13.93%

NISSAN -7.15%

PERODUA -65.22%

PEUGEOT -1.34%

PROTON -50.00%

SAAB -100.00%

SMART -4.95%

VAUXHALL -18.41%

VOLVO -5.42%

2013 was a brilliant year for the UK motor industry, with each month bettering the previous year, and with the financial crisis on its turnaround, lower unemployment, higher exports and the continued national Interest rate still at its historic low, car sales have been very buoyant for some while, it is then that we wondered if 2014 could better 2013, and if this month is any thing to go by, yes it can, with 154,562 sales in January, it surpassed 2013 by nearly 10,000 units or the entire run of Fiesta sales.

Unfortunately for us here Jaguar Land Rover (our favourite brands) both suffered significant drops in Jan' which considering they both have new metal they did not have at the same point last year is a sad state of affairs, however, both brands are going to have a very busy two years ahead with at least eight new cars either due or revealed the signs are looking bright for the British brands.

Vauxhall, considering the amount of new cars and engines they have suffered a huge 18.4% drop, it seems that the zero finance and lifetime warranties are not enticing buyers as much as they had hoped, of this carries on expect to see some terrific deals of UK made Astra's and the recently launched face-lifted Insignia, both cars deserve to sell better than they do, especially as the ageing Corsa outsells them both, talking of the Corsa, it is due for replacement imminently, so expect to see news of that shortly.

It is not often we talk of Bentley, but it has to be noted they nearly doubled January sales, 155 were sold this year 80 last, this is great news for the Crewe Company, and goes to show that quality and luxury can sell, even in the hardest of times. Lotus increased sales by 300%, now that sounds a lot doesn't it, but it was a case of 4 sales in '13 and 16 now, so I think we will just say 300%, it does sound so much better.

I have been very harsh about MG over the last 12 months, but credit where credit is due, they have sold over 130 cars in January that's 345% up on last year, so it seems that the little MG3 is selling, but not in the numbers MG led everyone to believe last year, when they apparently had 700 cars shipped to the UK and they sold the lot, meaning a long wait for new cars, but sales have not been much higher than last months, and only since November, so, where are these cars and sales ? Maybe MG will answer this question ?

Other mentions for January are Dacia, up nearly 350% on Jan last year, Honda down 14% and Chrysler down 19%, Aston Martin down 50%, Ssangyong up 235%, Maserati up 152% and Infiniti up 312%, so some serious percentage figures, but low sales numbers in some cases, but an increase is as increase, and that's just what our industry needs, more sales, more exports and better deals, these are all out there, with come HUGE discounts to be had if you take the time to look.

JON MOWER