Seat has confirmed its best year here to date, with new car sales of 36,089 in 2011 for an all-time record market share of 1.86%.

The performance sees the firm’s share of the UK new car market climb almost ten per cent versus 2010, and that in a market which is down by more than four per cent in the last 12 months.

Official SMMT statistics show that the Spanish car maker’s share of the 2011 market is its third consecutive best here, while the sales total of more than 36,000 cars comfortably exceeds Seat’s previous UK best of 34,790 registrations in 2007.

The Ibiza family of SC, 5dr and ST models remains Seat’s best-seller, with 19,179 registrations in 2011: an all-time best for the Ibiza in a single year here.

The Leon five-door hatch is runner-up in the Seat UK sales table with 10,714 registrations in 2011 and the new Alhambra almost trebled sales in the past 12 months.
Fleet sales ended the year 21% up on their 2010 total.

Managing director of Seat UK, Peter Wyhinny, is understandably proud both of the 2011 total, and Seat’s continuing growth in this country. He said: "The entire Seat UK team, and our growing network of excellent dealers nationwide, can rightly take great pride in this fabulous achievement.

"Seat has an ambitious plan for growth in this country and our performance in 2011 clearly demonstrates that it is firmly on track.

"I’m thrilled to see so many more new car buyers not only considering Seat, but actually taking the decision to buy one of our sporty, dynamic and exciting new cars.

"Now, with the largest product offensive in our history due in 2012 including the debut of the exciting Mii city car, I’m more confident than ever that we can look forward to a prosperous and successful future in the UK."