TMW - It's that time of the month and YEAR again - December and full year results 2015.

JAGUAR

DECEMBER 2014 1356 sales - DECEMBER 2015 1919 sales +41.52%

YTD 2014 18401 sales - YTD 2015 23954 sales +30.18%

LAND ROVER

DECEMBER 2014 3652 sales - DECEMBER 2015 4966 sales +35.98%

YTD 2014 56200 sales - YTD 2015 66574 sales +18.46%

JAGUAR LAND ROVER CUMULATIVE

DECEMBER 2014 5008 sales - DECEMBER 2015 6885 sales +37.48%

YTD 2014 74601 sales - YTD 2015 90528 sales +21.35%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

DECEMBER 2014 12445 sales - DECEMBER 2015 17181 sales +38.06%
YTD 2014 148878 sales - YTD 2015 167391 sales +12.44%

MERCEDES

DECEMBER 2014 7774 sales - DECEMBER 2015 8892 sales +14.38%

YTD 2014 124419 sales - YTD 2015 145254 sales +16.75%

LEXUS

DECEMBER 2014 709 sales - DECEMBER 2015 894 sales +26.09%

YTD 2014 11572 sales - YTD 2015 13269 sales +14.66%

AUDI

DECEMBER 2014 8013 sales - DECEMBER 2015 9144 sales +14.11% 

YTD 2014 158987 sales - YTD 2015 166709 sales +4.86%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (YTD CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +67.05%

ASTON MARTIN +9.84%

DS AUTOMOBILES +0.00% *

DACIA +9.92%

FORD +2.64%
HYUNDAI +7.48%
INFINITI +60.19%

JEEP +176.13%

KIA +1.24%

LOTUS +59.57%

MASERATI +20.10%

MAZDA +20.43%

MG +35.51%
MINI +18.49%

MITSUBISHI +43.58%

NISSAN +11.28%

PEUGEOT +0.66%

PORSCHE +32.83%

RENAULT +14.00%

SMART +94.73%

SSANGYONG +116.86%

SUBARU +23.70%
TOYOTA +5.00%

VAUXHALL +0.22%

VOLKSWAGEN +4.17%

VOLVO +5.76%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YTD CUMULATIVE)

ALFA ROMEO -8.22%

BENTLEY -6.32%
CHEVROLET -99.57%

CHRYSLER -93.09%

CITROEN -4.06% *
FIAT -4.33%
HONDA -0.24%

SEAT -10.95%
SKODA -1.05%

SUZUKI -7.91%

• * Citroen and DS Automobiles split sales in May 2015 - Combine both to get an accurate figure when comparing to 2015 sales figures.
• Figures all supplied by SMMT.

The year ended on a high with 2015 finishing with the highest ever sales within the United Kingdom, having said that there were a number of brands that did not finish the year higher than the preceding one, out of the 10 brands, two are no longer for sale (Chrysler & Chevrolet), One (Citroen) has split it's sales away from DS, so, add them together for the next few months to get a true reflection, SEAT & Skoda have the fall out of the VW scandal.

That leaves FIAT, Honda, Suzuki, Bentley and Alfa Romeo, which considering that 2015 was a record year, is a shame that these brands failed to achieve higher than last year numbers, Suzuki should, as they have new models, like Honda, Fiat keeps launching 500 derivatives, but that still has not helped, the very old Punto needs changing now, not next year, they have really lost the plot where that model is concerned. 

We then have Bentley and Alfa, both niche brands, Bentley, is a surprise, as the luxury market has sky-rocketed this year, and where there is luxury, the money has flowed fast this last 12 months, then we have Alfa, well, this brand has been left to fend for it's self for so long, with tweaks to its main two models to keep them ticking over, but FCA, which owns Alfa Romeo (amongst many many other brands) is about to change this.

The first of a raft of all new models  will be the all new Giulia saloon, a rear drive car that will give back the Alfa brand a car that's been missing for so long, this will be followed by SUV's, hatchbacks and sports cars, the 8C has sold out, and the 4C is doing decent business, and is a beautiful car.

The usual suspects are in the top ten best sellers for December and Year To Date (YTD), The Fiesta takes top honours again, and it is a nice surprise to get a few different models in the two charts, Mokka from Vauxhall is a nice addition, and just pops into the top ten YTD list, MINI has its best month in at #3, a brace of BMW's in December, but none for the YTD, Vauxhall continues to do well, with three models in the top ten at #2, #7 & #10, so a great finish to the year for them.

MG continues to grow, at 3,152 it is 35% higher than 2014, and is now knocking on the door of Subaru, Ssangyong, and with the Continuation of BTCC for three more years and the all new MG CS crossover, sales may well exceed 5,000 units next year, which would be at the level Alfa are in 2015, I just hope that they do not screw up the launch, and definitely do NOT use the horrid flashing bright colours that they are currently using for the MG6 and MG3.

Jeep is amazing, they just keep building them and we keep buying them, and with all new models due over the next 28-24 months, the sales can only grow further, Jaguar Land Rover, our brand of choice here at the TMW, has growth significantly over the last twelve months, with records being broken, the figures above, are a bit misleading, as they do not include any brands commercial vehicle sales, so JLR have tipped the 100,000 mark for the first time, so well done to them.

Ford is the winner, as per usual, they have been number one no since before i was born, and that was well over 40 years ago, and no matter what they produce, they just sell, with the Focus and Fiesta up there again this year, the Corsa breaks up, what would have been, a nice 1-2 partnership.

So, we look to 2016, and from initial considerations, i fear that we will have a down turn this year, the worlds bank, China, is having a bad time of it recently, and with it, the rest of the world will be hit, eventually that means us, whether that's interest rates rising, or sales of cars and other consumables dropping, it will happen, and it is looking like it may well be this year that, that happens. So, the car brands must "make hay while the sun shines", as they say.