UK SALES SEPT - Abarth sales in the UK means it sells more cars here than in any other country in the world.

The new Abarth 124 spider has helped Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ high performance marque to power ahead in terms of UK sales, as today's new car registrations figures reveal.

The scorpion brand has posted its best month ever in the UK. In super September, Abarth sold 805 cars - up 14.02 per cent on the 706 sold in the same period last year.

Year-to-date, the brand's 3125 units was 54.02 per cent up on YTD 2015 (2029), as an increasing number of people become owners of cars from Abarth's stunning 595 and 695 ranges – including the incredible 190hp biposto Record – and the fabulous new 124 spider two-seater which, for 2016 only, will feature a unique numbered badge.

The result means the UK is now the number one country for Abarth sales, year to date ahead, even, of Italy.

Market share of 0.17 per cent for September was up from 0.15 per cent for the same period in 2016, according to figures supplied by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

"This year has been an excellent one for Abarth, with September being the pinnacle," says Gerry Southerington, Abarth brand manager. "The new 124 spider has clearly helped us to carry the momentum on, and we look forward to continued success as we close 2016.”

Among the delighted new owners helping to make September a success for Abarth is Bertie Bryant, of Ascot, Berkshire, who was the first person in the UK to take delivery of a 124 spider.

“I’m absolutely delighted with my new car,” says Bertie, founder of the Abarth Owners Club. “I had been looking forward to the launch of the 124 spider for some time, and now I have one of my own, it’s everything I was hoping for.”

UK SALES SEPT - Vauxhall has a bumper month with the brand selling close to 50,000 units

• Bumper sales with 47,067 vehicles sold in plate-change month
• Two models in top ten UK best-sellers: Corsa and Astra
• Vauxhall number one in Scotland plus Corsa number one car
• Best-selling retail van manufacturer, Brit-built Vivaro top retail van

Vauxhall sold 47,067 cars and vans in the crucial plate-change month of September with two models, Corsa and Astra, among the UK’s top ten best-sellers, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Vauxhall’s top-selling model, the Corsa supermini, achieved sales of 14,570. It was also Scotland’s best-selling car with 2,361 sold in the region according to the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA). 

The SMTA also confirmed that Vauxhall was the number one manufacturer in Scotland with 4,977 cars sold last month.

The all-new Astra had its best-ever month with 8,776 sold in the UK. Astra and Insignia both topped their respective segments at fleet level in September.

And the outgoing Mokka went out with a bang. With the new Mokka X celebrating its dealer launch this month, the previous generation model sold 5,224 in its swan song month. In the expanding compact SUV segment, Mokka has proven to be a hugely popular option, surpassing 125,000 sales in the UK since its launch.

Vauxhall’s Luton-built Vivaro, the UK’s only British made van, was the number one selling commercial vehicle at retail with 1,299 sold last month and 6,268 during 2016. Overall, Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles was also the number one manufacturer at retail level with 2,175 vans sold last month and 10,599 year-to-date. Sales of Vivaro’s big brother, the Movano, were up 34 per cent in September.

“September was a great month for Vauxhall with sales results that we can be truly proud of,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director.

“Now we focus on finishing the year strongly with new models including Mokka X and Zafira Tourer arriving in showrooms and OnStar giving us a tremendous lead in the vehicle connectivity arena.”

Joining the Mokka X and Zafira Tourer in showrooms next year will be the VIVA ROCKS which premiered at the 2016 Paris Motor Show last week.

Citroen pulls out all the bells and whistles for the best offers they have had for years in a bid to expand its sales.

• 3 years’ / 35,000 mile servicing at £99 for all Citroën car models (excluding C-Zero)
• Citroën SimplyDrive across the range, plus telematics available for 18 year olds on selected models
• Up to £1,500 additional support for customers trading in their car for a New C4 Picasso
• New monthly rates include the award winning Grand C4 Picasso, available from £265 per month plus £1,500 deposit contribution
• Further options include C4 Cactus from £155 per month plus £1,500 deposit contribution, and C1 from £125 per month plus £500 deposit contribution
• Drivers can take advantage of these offers from 1 September 2016

Citroën has announced its range of offers for the new September registration, including 3 years / 35,000 miles servicing at £99 across its passenger car range (orders placed by 19 September & registered by 30 September, 2016), Citroën SimplyDrive across the range from 18 years old with telematics, and up to £1,500 additional support for customers when trading in their car for a new model: £1,500 for C4 Picasso and £1,000 for C3 Picasso.

Competitive retail packages across the range for September include up to £1,500 deposit contribution on C4 Cactus, New C4 Picasso and New Grand C4 Picasso, and 0% APR on C3 Picasso, C4 Cactus, New C4 Picasso, and New Grand C4 Picasso.

Citroën C1 is available from just £8,495 OTR,with £500 (Feel) or £400 (Flair) deposit contributions. Monthly rates startfrom £125 with all models (excluding Touch) being available with 4.9% APR. C1 benefits from the Citroën SimplyDrive scheme, providing driver peace of mind with 3 years’ motor insurance, routine servicing, roadside assistance, warranty and road fund licence. 

Citroën C3 Picasso is available from £16,575 OTR, with monthly rates starting from £205. All C3 Picasso Edition & Platinum models are available with 0% Elect 3 (PCP) and 0% HP both over 3 or 4 years with variable deposits - over 36 months 10% minimum deposit, or 48 months 20% minimum deposit.All C3 Picasso Edition & Platinum models are available with £1,000 deposit contribution.  Benefiting from the exchange scheme for drivers that wish to swap their old model for a new C3 Picasso, Citroën will offer a contribution of £1,000.

Available from £12,990 OTR, Citroën C4 Cactusmodels are available with 2.9% APR on Elect 3 (PCP) with a deposit contribution of up to £1,500, while the Feel edition starts from £260 per month with 0% APR over 3 years and £1,500 deposit contribution. The C4 Cactus is part of the Citroën SimplyDrive scheme available from 18 years old. 

Prices for New C4 Picasso start from £19,635 OTR, the Touch Edition being available from £327 per month with 0% APR over 4 years and £1,000 deposit contribution. All models across the range benefit from 0% APR finance over 36 months with a 0% minimum deposit, or 48 months with a 20% minimum deposit.

New Grand C4 Picasso is available from £21,935 OTR and benefits from 0% APR finance over 36 months with a 0% minimum deposit, or 48 months with a 20% minimum deposit. The New Grand C4 Picasso Touch Edition is available from £366 per month with £1,000 deposit contribution, both models benefiting from 0% APR over 4 years.

March becomes the biggest month for new car sales in the new Millenium, nearly 500,000.

• Best month this century with nearly half a million, 492,774, cars registered in March, up 6.0% on same month last year.
• Fleet market continues to drive growth, highlighting confidence of British businesses‎.
• Contribution to economy and job creation from UK automotive underscores need for consistent policies to let the sector flourish‎.

Figures released today show 492,774 cars were registered in March 2015 - the best month since the twice-yearly number plate changes were introduced in 1999. 

New products and attractive finance packages underpinned by low interest rates helped deliver this record result which was led by the fleet sector, with 11.6% year-on-year growth, reflecting the economic confidence currently felt by UK companies. Registrations so far this year have increased by 6.8% to 734,588.

The 37^th month of consecutive growth for the new car market shows the continuing demand for new products and new fuel-efficient and advanced technologies. The UK market surpassed pre-recession levels some seven months ago, helping bolster the economy and drive it out of recession. This growth, supported by domestic manufacturing, has attracted more than £14 billion of investment since 2011, creating almost 30,000 additional jobs. 

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The best month this century for new car registrations is a welcome boost for the UK’s thriving automotive sector. The challenge for a new government and industry will be to maintain this momentum and to strengthen Britain’s manufacturing capabilities through continued investment, innovation and policies which maintain our global competitiveness. Whatever the general election result, the new government must keep up the commitment to the sector which is delivering at home and abroad.”

SMMT priorities for a new government: 

Industrial Strategy: With 257,300 UK-built cars rolling off production lines in the first two months of 2015, UK car production is expected to exceed pre-recession levels this year, buoyed by a strong export market that delivered revenues of £26.2 billion in 2014. The continued delivery of the Automotive Sector Strategy through the Automotive Council will be essential in developing the supply chain, skills, technology and business environment to assure global competitiveness.

Innovation and investment: Vehicle technology, including ultra-low emission vehicles and connectivity, is developing and diversifying at a staggering pace. Increasing the rate of R&D tax credit and bolstering funding for long-term initiatives such as the Advanced Propulsion Centre will help UK manufacturers lead this innovation. Investment in skills will ensure the UK workforce has the capabilities to develop and manufacture the next generation of technologies.

Europe: Membership of the European Union is critical to the UK automotive industry; the sector’s competitiveness is dependent on access to the European single market, integrated supply chains, international trade agreements, common regulations, funding for innovation and free movement of labour. SMMT members want to see reform of the EU with greater emphasis on industrial competitiveness and better regulation but believe membership of the EU remains best for business.

March new car registrations 1999-2015   

March			Total	Diesel	Petrol			AFV		Private	Fleet		Business
2015			492,774	229,357	249,082			14,335		253,043	219,153		20,578
2014			464,824	222,409	233,702			8,713		246,488	196,304		22,032
% change			6.0%	3.1%	6.6%			64.5%		2.7%	11.6%		-6.6%
Mkt share '15				46.5%	50.5%			2.9%		51.4%	44.5%		4.2%
Mkt share '14				47.8%	50.3%			1.9%		53.0%	42.2%		4.7%
Year-to-date			Total	Diesel	Petrol			AFV		Private	Fleet		Business
2015			734,588	349,741	364,062			20,785		351,571	354,690		28,327
2014			688,122	334,962	340,376			12,784		347,668	309,545		30,909
% change			6.8%	4.4%	7.0%			62.6%		1.1%	14.6%		-8.4%
Mkt share '15				47.6%	49.6%			2.8%		47.9%	48.3%		3.9%
Mkt share '14				48.7%	49.5%			1.9%		50.5%	45.0%		4.5%
			2008	2009	2010			2011		2012	2013		2014
Total cars			2,131,795	1,994,999	2,030,846			1,941,253		2,044,609	2,264,737		2,476,435
Best sellers		March							Year-to-date
	1	Ford Fiesta			27,034		1		Ford Fiesta			39,804
	2	Vauxhall Corsa			19,391		2		Vauxhall Corsa			29,100
	3	Ford Focus			15,442		3		Ford Focus			22,287
	4	Nissan Qashqai			12,210		4		Volkswagen Golf			19,435
	5	Volkswagen Golf			11,871		5		Nissan Qashqai			18,686
	6	Volkswagen Polo			10,038		6		Vauxhall Astra			15,009
	7	Vauxhall Astra			9,617		7		Volkswagen Polo			14,821
	8	Audi A3			9,101		8		Audi A3			14,358
	9	Mercedes-Benz C-Class			8,755		9		Mercedes-Benz C-Class			13,975
	10	Fiat 500			8,662		10		Fiat 500			13,243