Vauxhall ends the year with some significant improvements and a massive police market share.

• Astra best-seller in its segment for last three months of 2016
• Vauxhall number one in Scotland, with Corsa best-selling car

Rounding off last year in style, Vauxhall’s multi award-winning Astra has celebrated a sales hat-trick by being number one in its segment in each of the last three months of 2016.

According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the Astra cruised to victory with 15,948 sold in the fourth quarter and a total of 32,313 sold between July and December 2016, making it the best-selling car in its segment in the second half of the year, too.

This sales momentum capped a superb year for Vauxhall’s family hatchback, having built up an impressive list of accolades including 2016 European Car of Year, a game-changer award from Autocar and category wins at the Auto Express, What Car? and Fleet News awards.

In Scotland, Vauxhall was the largest selling manufacturer, according to figures released by the Scottish Motor Trade Association. Vauxhall has been number one in the region for the last nine years.

With over 10,000 sold last year, the Corsa was Scotland’s best-selling car. The top-selling Corsa has been Scotland’s best-selling car for seven out of the last eight years. Two other Vauxhall models featured in Scotland’s top ten best-sellers, including the Astra in fifth place with 5,260 sold and the Mokka in tenth place with 3,843 sold.

And if that wasn’t enough, Vauxhall is the number one supplier to Police fleets with a 70 per cent market share of competitive segments. A position it hopes to strengthen after opening the largest Police car factory in Europe at its manufacturing plant in Luton, Bedfordshire last year.

“The Astra is the best family car on the market,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “After winning a host of top awards, 2016 was the new Astra’s first full year on the market and I am very pleased to see it top its segment in the fourth quarter and the second half of the year. Now we focus on 2017, with our best-ever product portfolio and five new models in the pipeline.”

Vauxhall is set for a ground-breaking 2017, with a total of five major product launches that will add further variety to its range, already one of the largest in the UK, while at the same time entering new market segments. The five new models are the Insignia Grand Sport, Sports Tourer and Country Tourer, Crossland X and Grandland X.

Vauxhall offers buyers of a limited range of cars and vans a free £500 Fuel card from Tomorrow until Monday. T&C Apply.

Customers of Vauxhall retailers across the country can get £500* worth of free fuel, with selected car and van purchases between Thursday 8^th September and Monday 12^th September.

The offer is available on Vauxhall’s multi-award winning Astra, as well as the popular Corsa supermini, fashionable ADAM and Mokka compact SUV.

In addition to passenger cars, the offer is open to commercial vehicle customers across Vauxhall’s van range, including the Corsavan, Combo, Brit-Built Vivaro and Movano. Customers will be able to take home their £500 Fuel Card when placing an order for a new car or van that is registered on or before 30^th September 2016.

The £500 free fuel offer is available in addition to Vauxhall’s other great discounts including a range of finance offers and Flexible Personal Contract Purchase Plans (PCP). Customers can choose from a selection of Vauxhall models with low monthly payments and all the flexibility that PCP finance allows at the end of the chosen term.

“Our free fuel offer this September is a great opportunity for customers to take advantage of our other fantastic finance deals and drive away with a new car or van,” said Leon Caruso, Vauxhall’s Retail Sales Director.

August see's more growth in the UK despite all the doom mongers and the withdrawal from Europe.

SMMT NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS

• UK new car registrations increase 3.3% in August to 81,640 units, with YTD performance steady at 1.68m.
• Fleet sector drives market, with demand in the month growing 7.7% as private registrations fall -0.2%.
• Registrations of alternatively fuelled vehicles up almost a third (30.8%).

The UK new car market achieved modest growth in August, as registrations rose 3.3% against the same month last year, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 81,640 new cars were registered in the month, with year-to-date performance remaining positive, up 2.8% to 1.68 million units.

The fleet sector drove the growth with demand, buoyed by attractive finance deals and discounts, rising 7.7% to 43,267, while private registrations fell slightly by -0.2%. Diesel demand also fell marginally by -0.2%, with petrol registrations edging ahead 5.3% and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFV) seeing significant growth of 30.8%. Almost 54,000 AFVs have been registered so far in 2016, compared with just over 44,000 last year.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “August is traditionally one of the quietest months as consumers look ahead to the September plate change, so growth, albeit small, is good news. With showrooms full of exciting models featuring the very latest technology and a raft of affordable finance options, it still makes economic sense to consider buying a new car. The key to maintaining this strong market is consumer confidence for which we look to government to deliver the conditions for economic growth.”

UK RECALL #1 - Vauxhall recalls certain Mokka Models for possible water penetration that affects the electronic brake.

Vehicle Details
Reference :	R/2016/140
Manufacturer Ref :	16-C-047
Make:	VAUXHALL
Model :	Mokka
Launch Date :	01/07/2016
Numbers Involved :	2143
Build Start Date :	29/04/2015
Build End Date :	27/11/2015

Recall Details
Concern :	RISK OF FIRE
Description :	Water may penetrate into the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) connector. In the worst case, water can enter the EBCM, where a short circuit may lead to a risk of fire. Warning before the fire element could occur is: flashing warning lamp which will give sufficient warning for the vehicle to be parked safely or, if nearby, taken to the dealership for repair.
Remedial Action :	Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check if the water cowl fastening clip correctly seals the water channel and that proper sealing of the EBCM connector is ensured. If necessary the EBCM and/or the hydraulic modulator will be replaced.
Vehicle Id :	F4215634 to G4086992

Other Vehicles Affected (Click the vehicle to perform an extended search)

VAUXHALL - MOKKA

Mercedes takes TWO top ten positions in the UK, three for Vauxhall, TWO for VW and TWO for Ford, Nissan, ONE.

Passenger car demand sees small increase in July as UK registrations rose by 0.1%. Demand for AFVs remains healthy up 24.7% but still small market share. Monthly car registrations level off after record 2015 and strong early 2016 growth.

UK new car registrations experienced a moderate increase in July, up 0.1% for the month, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 1,599,159 new cars have been registered so far this year, putting demand in the year-to-date 2.8% higher than for the same period in 2015 following a strong first quarter. July followed the trend seen throughout this year whereby lower private registrations were offset by fleet purchases, which increased by 5.0% this month. Demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles remained remarkably strong with 24.7% more registrations compared with the same month in 2015. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “After a healthy start to 2016 and record registrations in 2015 the market is showing signs of cooling. The automotive market is a vital part of the British economy and it’s important government delivers the economic conditions which instil business and consumer confidence. With low interest rates, attractive finance options and exciting new models coming to the showrooms, the market still has lots to offer customers.”

UK SALES FEBRUARY - The market sees more growth with the UK Top 10 adding new cars, Vauxhall on a roll.

SMMT NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS

4 March 2016 (data for February 2016)

• New car market grows 8.4% in February, with 83,395 units registered.
• Demand from private customers drives increases, up 22.6%, with fleet demand down 1.4%.
• Registrations of alternatively-fuelled vehicles up by a fifth in the month.

New car registrations continued the positive start to 2016 in February, growing 8.4% compared with the same month in 2015, according to new figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 83,395 new cars were registered in the month, marking the biggest February since 2004.

Demand was up across all fuel types, with diesel and petrol registrations growing by 5.6% and 10.7% respectively, while alternatively-fuelled vehicles enjoyed an uplift of 19.9%. Fleet demand dipped slightly compared with the private sector, but still retained its 53.1% majority share of new vehicles.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “February is typically one of the quietest months of the year, ahead of March’s plate change, but this positive performance is encouraging and puts the sector in a good position for the coming 12 months."

The Vauxhall Mokka reaches a significant milestone, with the model passing the Half Million units sold mark.

• Best-selling Mokka is the star of compact SUVs in Europe
• Intelligent all-wheel drive especially valuable in winter months
• Stay connected with OnStar connectivity and service assistant

Vauxhall is celebrating the 500,000^th order of its Mokka, which has proved a huge success across Europe. Since launching three years ago, the Mokka has impressed with its stylish design, high practicality, frugal engines and ultra-modern technologies such as intelligent all-wheel drive.

In addition, Mokka owners are always fully connected with the personal connectivity and service assistant OnStar, which offers extensive services at the push of a button. It’s been as well-received by customers as it has the press, with awards across Europe including an “All-Wheel Drive Car of the Year” prize and a “Company Car of the Year” honour.

“Customers looking for a robust, compact SUV with a high level of functionality at an affordable price should look no further than the Vauxhall Mokka,” said Simon Oldfield, Vauxhall’s Sales & Marketing Director. “Half a million sales is a huge milestone to achieve and we hope the Mokka will remain a best-seller in 2016 and beyond.”

The Mokka offers complete suitability for everyday use for up to five people within a compact length of 4.28m. It comes with refined and powerful engines with the frugal latest-generation turbo-diesel units leading the way.

In combination with a six-speed manual transmission, the 1.6 CDTi is available in 110PS or 136PS iterations, achieving up to 68.9mpg combined and emissions as low as 109g/km.

This capable diesel can also be combined with intelligent all-wheel drive. The 4x4 system automatically recognises where the most traction is required and divides power to front- or rear-wheels accordingly, providing a considerable boost in safety especially in wet and slippery conditions.

The Vauxhall bestseller does not only come with high-tech drive solutions, it also offers outstanding connectivity. Just like most Vauxhall models, the Mokka is now available with OnStar. 

The personal connectivity and service assistant proposes a wide range of services ranging from Automatic Crash Response and Roadside Assistance to Remote Vehicle Diagnostics via the myVauxhall smartphone app or a powerful 4G/LTE Wi-Fi hotspot for up to seven devices.