Fleet NewsNet reported last week that 438,075 cars were sold last month, an all-time record for March. Demand was up 3.4% on the same time last year, with 14,348 more units sold.
Private, fleet and business registrations all reported year-on-year growth last month. Private sales jumped 4% to 232,803, while fleet sales were up 1.1% to 161,122. Business sales to sub-25 vehicle fleets were up 9% to 44,050.
For March, Vauxhall topped the fleet sales league table, with 35,630 units sold, up 10.7% on the same period last year. Ford was in second at 29,502, a fall of 3.25%. Peugeot saw sales fall 5.16% (12,398) while Volkswagen enjoyed a 19.7% sales boost, to 12,177.
Vauxhall's sales jump was mostly down to the Corsa and Zafira, which increased sales by 48% and 20% respectively year-on-year, although the Ford Focus was still the best-selling fleet car last month.
Diesels accounted for 31% of the fleet market last month, totalling 50,131 sales, an increase of 11.5% on March last year. By contrast, fleet petrol sales were down 3% to 111,991.
Ford was the best-selling fleet diesel manufacturer last month, posting an 18% increase year-on-year to 9,553. Vauxhall was up 25% (7,129), with Volkswagen up 20.5% (7,066), Peugeot down 17% (6,016), while Renault was up 26% (3,874). Mercedes-Benz enjoyed a 17% increase in diesel sales (1,291), marking a record month overall for the manufacturer.
Once again, the Ford Focus was the best-selling fleet diesel car in March, followed by the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, Vauxhall Vectra and Volkswagen Golf. For the year-to-date, Vauxhall now leads the fleet market, with 63,478 units sold, a rise of 5.14%, compared to Ford's second place sales of 53,716, down 11.4%.
Volkswagen rises to third place from fifth at the same period last year, with a 5.6% increase in sales to 21,662. All other manufacturers in the top 10 have posted a fall in fleet sales so far this year, with the exception of Audi in 10th place, which has sold 8,103 units, a rise of 6% year-on-year.
The Ford Focus remains the best-selling fleet car, followed by the Vauxhall Astra and Corsa, Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra.
The fleet diesel market for the year-to-date, sees Ford in the lead, up 9% at 15,836, followed by Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Peugeot and Renault. Ford's Focus tops the fleet diesel sales charts for the year, ahead of the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, Golf, Vauxhall Vectra and Astra.
For a full break down of registrations in March and the year-to-date (in pdf format) click here.
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