TMW - It's that time of the month again - March 2016 - The first quarter ends on a high, with more to come.

JAGUAR

MARCH 5659 2016  sales - MARCH 2015 3903 sales +44.99%

Y.T.D. 2016 8680 sales - Y.T.D. 2015 4952 sales +75.28%

LAND ROVER

MARCH 2016 18234 sales - MARCH 2015 15508 sales +17.58%

Y.T.D. 2016 24118 sales - Y.T.D. 2015 20605 sales +17.05%

JAGUAR LAND ROVER CUMULATIVE

MARCH 2016 23893 sales - MARCH 2015 19411 sales +23.10%

Y.T.D. 2016 32798 sales - Y.T.D. 2015 25557 sales +28.33%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

MARCH 2016 32470 sales - MARCH 2015 26925 sales +20.59%

Y.T.D. 2016 46495 sales - Y.T.D. 2015 40024 sales +16.17%

MERCEDES

MARCH 2016 30243 sales - MARCH 2015 26616 sales +13.63%

Y.T.D. 2016 47239 sales - Y.T.D. 2015 40311 sales +17.19%

LEXUS

MARCH 2016 3104 sales - MARCH 2015 2446 sales +26.90%

Y.T.D. 2016 4337 sales - Y.T.D. 2015 3686 sales +17.66%

AUDI

MARCH 2016 30483 sales - MARCH 2015 29153 sales +4.56% 

Y.T.D. 2016 47380 sales - Y.T.D. 2015 44919 sales +5.48%

INFINITI

MARCH 2016 392 sales - MARCH 2015 153 sales +156.21% 

Y.T.D. 2016 524 sales - Y.T.D. 2015 232 sales +125.86%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (Y.T.D. CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +94.51%

ALFA ROMEO +11.82%

ASTON MARTIN +3.79%

BENTLEY +12.53%

DS AUTOMOBILES +0.00% *

FIAT +3.41%

HONDA +14.83%

HYUNDAI +2.02%

JEEP +37.62%

KIA +8.52%

MAZDA +16.71%

MG +15.48%

MINI +8.13%

PORSCHE +21.83%

RENAULT +16.35%

SKODA +9.03%

SMART +116.56%

SSANGYONG +122.35%

SUBARU +3.68%

SUZUKI +13.30%
TOYOTA +1.91%

VOLVO +8.66%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YTD CUMULATIVE)

CITROEN -15.46% *

DACIA -1.01%

FORD -0.96%

LOTUS -1.14%
MASERATI -12.80%

MITSUBISHI -17.38%

NISSAN -5.20%
PEUGEOT -5.84%

SEAT -5.42%

VAUXHALL -0.19%

VOLKSWAGEN -4.88%

• *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.

Well, we conclude the first quarter with yet more record sales, March is, one of the two sales boosting months with the number plate change, so, not only do we get to see a new number on the plates, we see, this time, nearly 520,000 cars sold, and thats a significant increase on last March, So, who are the winners and who are the losers this year.

Smart, Ssangyong and Abarth are up there with double or more sales against a year ago, Smart has nothing new, so it looks like people are now getting used to the brace of cars and are happy to part with their hard earned for one of these quirky cars, Ssangyong, well, they have the Tivoli, which is doing some really good business, along with new engines and a 4x4 version, and a LWB version coming soon, then we have Abarth, they have nothing new, just the same warmed over Fiat 500's in various tunes and trim levels, but we will have the 124 Spider to add to the fray not long after the main model is launched.

Jaguar and Land Rover both continue their upward journey with some really big increases, especially Jaguar, and about time too, the F-Pace will help keep the sales flying high, and the XE will keep the volume end afloat, but the XF seems to have stagnated, and the XJ is pegged at around 20,000 units a year worldwide, those numbers are not very fiscally viable, so expect the next generation to have a more parts bin look to it, especially under the skin, all to save a few pennies.

The Key players in the UK, Ford and Vauxhall are both showing declines in Q1, however in the month Vauxhall are up +6.6% and Ford are down -4.91%, both have new or refreshed products, and both remain Britains favourite brands.

The Four French brands are also having a decent time, except for Peugeot, Citroen shows a negative figure, but you have to factor in DS as they are now split, together they are growing, and they too have a number of new or refreshed models, it does have to be said, that although the three DS models, 3-4 & 5, have been refreshed they remain very old in car terms these days, and the DS3 must be replaced sooner than the other two, as it is the biggest seller in the DS portfolio.

Volkswagen and one of it's subsidiaries, SEAT, both dropped sales, not sure why SEAT has, they have some brilliant models, the LEON and Ibiza, but Volkswagen, well, with them conning the worlds motoring buyers with the Diesel Scandal, it goes to show that the buyers will hit you hard, and where it hurts, and thats in VW's wallet, it is not only the UK thats dropped, the USA has also dropped significantly too.

Aston and Bentley are taking in the orders nicely for their portfolio of stunning products, Lotus however, remains an odd set of numbers, before March they were well above target, yet in the first of the two big months of the year, Lotus dropped sales, MINI has turned a corner with a nice set of positive figures, again, the same cant be said for MINI USA, Subaru continues to grow and grow the world over, and with them entering a factory backed team in the British Touring Car Championships (BTCC), with the newly launched Levorg, it will no doubt have some influence on the buying public, as long, of course, they do some decent racing, and get some podiums and wins, but they have three years to get it right, as thats the length of the contract to run the team, but with Jason Plato and Colin Turkington in the team, expect wins this year.

And thats it for March and Q1, April brings with it some new models, and further announcements of brands and models appearing at the inaugural London Motor Show, so, see you in one month.