Ford, JLR, Others Post Records in Hot U.K. Market

Ford U.K. puts in a big month as its March-record 20,735-unit commercial-vehicle sales – up 23.1% year-on-year – combined with 60,349 new-car deliveries to push total vehicle deliveries up 1.4% to 81,084, its best monthly result since 2008.

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders data shows the Blue Oval now accounts for 13.8% of the U.K. market, 3.9 percentage points ahead of nearest rival.

The Fiesta small car (36,327) was the U.K.’s best-seller after three months, with the Transit Custom and Transit atop the CV sales table. The Fiesta, Focus, Galaxy, Fiesta Van, Transit Custom, Transit and Ranger led their respective segments.

Ford sales were up 3.6% at the end of the first quarter to 125,614 units, topping the market.

The SMMT says U.K. new-car sales rose 5.3% year-on-year in March to 518,707 units, making it the biggest month since the biannual number plate change began in 1999.

It also marked only the third time the market has surpassed a half-million new-car sales in a single month.

The result pushed first-quarter volume up 5.1% to a record 771,780 units.

“The sector’s strong growth in March rounds off a robust first quarter as British consumers continue to demonstrate their appetite for new cars, especially ultra-low-emission vehicles,” SMMT CEO Mike Hawes says in a statement.

But in an oblique reference to the June 3 U.K. referendum on whether to stay in the European Union, Hawes adds: “This confidence should see registrations remain at a high but broadly stable level over the year – but could be undermined by political or economic uncertainty.”

Meanwhile, the SMMT says the rapid rise of the SUV continues, with more than 85,000 units sold in March, 140% more than a decade earlier and now accounting for about one in six new vehicles sold.

March sales of hybrid and electric vehicles spiked 1,173% year-on-year to more than 17,000 units.

The LCV market rose 3.3% in March to 63,913 units, taking the 3-month total up 1.2% to 98,906.

The soaring market saw a slew of records with Jaguar Land Rover reporting its best-ever monthly retail sales of 25,127 units, up 16% year-on-year. JLR’s U.K. sales jumped 23% in the first quarter to 35,444 units.

Mazda U.K. also logged a record month with more than 11,500 units, topping its former peak set in September 2009 at the height of the scrappage scheme.

Jeep had its best month in the U.K. as sales rose 18.6% to 2,597 units for the 31st consecutive year-on-year increase. Its March total was higher than its annual volumes in the 2009-2013 period.

Kia set an any-month sales record with 16,207 deliveries, up 7.9% year-on-year as the new Sportage accounted for 7,388 units, or 46% of the total, in its second month in the market.

With the market soaring, organizers of the new London Motor Show say industry interest is growing, with 35 car brands and more than 130 to be on display, some to be seen in the capital for the first time.

The most recent additions to the show at the Battersea Evolution Centre from May 5 -8 include Dodge, McLaren, Lotus and TVR.