Car sales stable in January

The UK car market grew by just 0.03 per cent in January 2012, with 128,853 vehicles sold, only 42 more than January 2011.

The Ford Fiesta sold 7,824 to be comfortably the top-selling vehicle, with the Focus giving Ford a one-two finish. The brand holds the biggest slice of the market at 15.57 per cent, and was the only make to register a market share in double-figures.

While Ford improved, Vauxhall dropped a massive 20.91 per cent, yet remained next best with 9.40 per cent market share. Its best seller was the Corsa, in fourth, backed up by the Astra in fifth and Insignia in seventh. 

The GM-owned brand was almost overtaken by Volkswagen, who closed within 521 cars of Vauxhall to finish third with 8.99 per cent of the market. The Golf was the UK's third-best seller and the Polo sixth.

Audi was fourth, selling 8,563 vehicles to improve on January 2011’s 8,302, which gives the brand 6.65 per cent market share. Peugeot came fifth with 7,282 vehicles sold for a 5.65 percentage.

MG’s revival saw it become one of the biggest improvers, selling 107 cars, which is more than Chrysler (98), Ssangyong (43) and Infiniti (33), although all three brands improved on the previous January’s result.

The biggest declines were, Saab (predictably at -99.2 per cent) followed by Abarth (-37.18), Proton (-32.35) and BMW (-28.39) trailing Renault (-27.54) and Mitsubishi (-26.97).

According to the SMMT’s figures, sales of diesels grew by 6.3 per cent, with petrol dropping 7.0 per cent. The SMMT has revised its 2012 sales forecast to 1.92 million units; a 1.1 per cent fall from 2011’s 1.94 million.