Car Makers Premier League – October 2011

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It’s time once more for the Car Makers Premier League where each and every month we examine the top 20 manufacturers by number of units registered and see just how they look when compared with the previous month. At the end of the year who will be crowned champion? Who will drop out of the top 20 as the year unfolds and which high achievers will be promoted?

October’s statistics (based on the SMMT figures for UK new car registrations in October 2011) revealed that 134,944 61-plate cars were registered in the month, an increase of 2.6% (3,449 units) on October 2010. The market is 4.5% down so far this year and Paul Everitt SMMT Chief Executive is upbeat “…a positive result despite the uncertain economic climate.”

In October 2010 the market recorded a whopping 22.2% decrease on October 2009 so obviously caution is advised when viewing the modest October increase in case it is believed that we’ve turned some sort of corner.

Overall the top 11 positions outperformed the market this month with Land Rover knocking Hyundai (2nd with a massive 60% increase) off the top spot with an amazing 63% increase on October 2010. In 3rd (wait for it) Honda! Yes you did read that right, Honda are in the top 3 after what seems an eternity languishing with the bottom feeders like Renault, with a jaw dropping 53% increase on last October. Not only that, but the Jazz is 10th in the top 10 models for the month with 2,472 units shifted, accounting 49% of total registrations for October).

Kia move up to 4th and Mercedes make up the top 5. Interestingly after having the top 10 virtually all to themselves for months the topsy-turvy trend continues as German owned manufacturers only make up 4 positions this month (how do you spell schadenfreude? –oh yeah that’s it…thanks Google)

This month it’s welcome back to Volvo, although their pretty dismal 36% decline on last year only nudges them in at position 20. Other than Volvo and the aforementioned Honda it’s pretty much business as usual down at the bottom with Renault creeping up one place with a dreadful 15% decline and Fiat managing to drag themselves off the bottom with a woeful 20% drop.

This month the biggest faller is VW slipping 9 places from 5th last month all the way back to 14th this.

According to Paul Everitt of the SMMT “We expect market conditions to remain challenging and hope the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement later this month will help to boost economic growth and consumer confidence.”

In other words let’s not get carried away!

Car Makers Premier League October 2011

Pos	Manufacturer	Oct-10	Oct-11	Diff	%
1(9)		1,864	3,044	1,180	63
2(1)		3,057	4,877	1,820	60
3(18)		3,146	4,889	1,743	55
4(6)		2,755	4,272	1,517	55
5(10)		4,967	5,916	949	19
6(8)		6,616	7,577	961	15
7(12)		16,344	18,476	2,132	13
8(7)		5,935	6,385	450	8
9(4)		2,083	2,204	121	6
10(3)		2,833	2,944	111	4
11(2)		3,183	3,302	119	4
12(16)		15,970	16,008	38	0
13(13)		6,295	6,253	(42)	(1)
14(5)		12,814	12,106	(708)	(6)
15(14)		4,965	4,654	(311)	(6)
16(11)		10,034	8,985	(1,049)	(10)
17(15)		5,284	4,655	(629)	(12)
18(19)		7,495	6,358	(1,137)	(15)
19(20)		3,548	2,849	(699)	(20)
20(-)		3,202	2,051	(1,151)	(36)