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United Kingdom Auto Industry Sales Figures – Total New Vehicle Sales Since 2000

Check out the Monthly & Annual Unit & Dollar Growth of the British Automotive Market

Sales of New Cars In the U.K – Data, Trends, Charts & Analysis

Here you will find United Kingdom sales figures for the overall auto industry. We have been able to get data back to 2000. As you can see from the trends, the UK auto industry has been a bit of a malaise since the turn of the century. Average growth has been a paltry 0.55% since 2000. In the last decade there was hope for the UK auto industry until Brexit fears quashed momentum. 2013 saw 10.77% growth, 2014 saw 9.35% growth and 2014 saw 6.34% growth. Things abruptly came to halt in 2016 with only 2.25% growth followed by two years of declining growth of -5.65% in 2017 and -6.83% in 2018. The average number of new cars registered in the UK since 2000 has been 2.35 million cars per year. Peak sales were in 2016 of 2,692,786 new cars were sold. It remains to be seen how the UK auto industry and consumer demand for cars will change in the coming years but we are sure that the road will continue to be rocky for the foreseeable future.

United Kingdom Automotive Sales Data & Recent Highlights

  • The increasing popularity of electric vehicles: Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, as the government offers incentives to encourage people to buy them. In 2022, electric vehicles accounted for 12.0% of new car registrations in the UK. This is up from 7.3% in 2021.
  • The growing popularity of SUVs: SUVs are also becoming increasingly popular in the UK, as they are seen as more practical and comfortable than sedans. In 2022, SUVs accounted for 45.4% of new car registrations in the UK. This is up from 41.2% in 2021.
  • The growing popularity of online car buying: More and more people are buying cars online in the UK. In 2022, 15.0% of new car purchases were made online. This is up from 12.0% in 2021. The convenience and flexibility of online car buying are driving its popularity.
  • The increasing use of technology in cars: Cars are becoming increasingly technologically advanced, with features such as autonomous driving, advanced driver assistance systems, and infotainment systems becoming more common.
  • The growing demand for sustainable cars: Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of cars, and are demanding more sustainable options. This is driving the development of electric vehicles and other low-emissions vehicles.

Interesting UK New Car Sales Stats

  • Best Sales Year Volume: 2,692,786 units sold
  • Worst Sales Year Volume: 1,614,063 units sold
  • Average Sales Per Year: 2,256,570.8 units sold
  • Total Sales Units (since 2000): 51,901,129 units sold

Top 10 Most Popular Automotive Brands In the UK

Here are the top 10 most popular automotive brands in the UK. Volkswagen is the top-selling automotive brand in the UK, followed by Ford and Vauxhall. Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Nissan, Hyundai, and Skoda are also among the top 10 most popular automotive brands in the UK. These brands are popular in the UK for a variety of reasons, including their reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability. They also offer a wide range of models to choose from, which caters to the needs of different consumers.

  1. Volkswagen
  2. Ford
  3. Vauxhall
  4. Toyota
  5. BMW
  6. Mercedes-Benz
  7. Kia
  8. Nissan
  9. Hyundai
  10. Skoda

UK New Motor Vehicle Sales

Below is the unit volume sales and unit growth rate of the vehicle industry in the United Kingdom.

Year Sales Growth
2000 2,221,647
2001 2,458,769 10.70
2002 2,563,631 4.30
2003 2,579,050 0.60
2004 2,567,269 -0.50
2005 2,439,717 -5.00
2006 2,344,864 -3.90
2007 2,404,007 2.50
2008 2,131,795 -11.30
2009 1,994,999 -6.40
2010 2,030,846 1.80
2011 1,941,253 -4.40
2012 2,044,609 5.30
2013 2,264,737 10.80
2014 2,476,435 9.40
2015 2,633,503 6.30
2016 2,692,786 2.30
2017 2,540,617 -5.70
2018 2,367,147 -6.80
2019 2,311,140 -6.60
2020 1,631,064 -31.20
2021 1,647,181 0.70
2022 1,614,063 -1.80

UK New Motor Vehicle Chart

Source: SMMT