Decembers’ new car registration figures are in so who won the league? Who made it into Europe? Who got relegated?
We can now take a look at the final table for 2011 and check the standings of the various top 20 manufacturers we have followed throughout the year in the Car Makers Premier League. As the SMMT themselves say 2011 was “challenging” with volumes down 4.4% for the year.
“2011 proved to be a challenging year for the UK motor industry. Total new car registrations were slightly ahead of industry expectations at 1.94 million units, still down 4.4% on 2010,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012, but record numbers of new and updated models, significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies will help to encourage consumers into showrooms. Business and consumer confidence will be the key to a successful year, so it will be important that government delivers on its growth strategy and helps to resolve instability in the Euro Zone.”
Champions – MINI
A great year for MINI, last year they finished 7th, this year top with a just over 14% increase on 2010.
Champions League – Audi, Seat
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A fantastic year for Audi leaping up from 8th last year to the runners-up position this, increasing registrations by 14% and a consistent performance by Seat (nowhere to be seen in the 2010 Car Makers Champions League), 3rd with a very creditable 10% increase on last year, given the circumstances.
Champions League Playoff – Skoda
A good, solid performance for Skoda with a just over 9% increase on 2010 and completing a clean sweep for Germany in the top 4 positions.
Europa league Playoff Round – Mercedes, Nissan
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A creditable finish for Mercedes with a 9% increase on last year and a slightly disappointing one from Nissan slipping from 3rd place last year and the heady heights of the Champions League to what many see as the “Mickey Mouse” competition that is the Europa league.
Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round – BMW
Yet another German manufacturer with a more modest 7% increase on 2010 and moving down three positions from 4th last year.
Relegated to the Championship – Fiat, Honda, Renault
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Toyota manage to put there annus horribilis behind them and scramble out of the relegation zone but here we have the usual suspects of Fiat and Honda, oh dear. This year that motley crew is joined by last year’s surprise winners Renault (touch of the Leeds United about that) finishing rock bottom with a really rather hopeless 28% decline on 2010. Renault are consolidating their UK business and judging by this it can’t come soon enough.
Car Makers Champions League 2011
| Pos | Manufacturer | 2010 | 2011 | Diff | % |
| 1(7) |  | 43,894 | 50,138 | 6,244 | 14 |
| 2(8) |  | 99,828 | 113,797 | 13,969 | 14 |
| 3(-) |  | 32,935 | 36,089 | 3,154 | 10 |
| 4(6) |  | 41,240 | 45,061 | 3,821 | 9 |
| 5(14) |  | 74,977 | 81,873 | 6,896 | 9 |
| 6(3) |  | 89,681 | 96,269 | 6,588 | 7 |
| 7(4) |  | 109,418 | 116,642 | 7,224 | 7 |
| 8(10) |  | 174,655 | 179,290 | 4,635 | 3 |
| 9(9) |  | 61,752 | 62,900 | 1,148 | 2 |
| 10(2) |  | 37,272 | 37,637 | 365 | 1 |
| 11(5) |  | 56,114 | 53,615 | (2,499) | (4) |
| 12(13) |  | 247,265 | 234,710 | (12,555) | (5) |
| 13(17) |  | 280,364 | 265,894 | (14,470) | (5) |
| 14(15) |  | 73,317 | 68,464 | (4,853) | (7) |
| 15(11) |  | 37,435 | 32,657 | (4,778) | (13) |
| 16(18) |  | 109,324 | 94,989 | (14,335) | (13) |
| 17(19) |  | 87,396 | 73,589 | (13,807) | (16) |
| 18(20) |  | 63,652 | 50,577 | (13,075) | (21) |
| 19(18) |  | 53,092 | 41,612 | (11,480) | (22) |
| 20(1) |  | 95,608 | 68,449 | (27,159) | (28) |
Here’s to 2012 and let’s hope it’s a bit better than many are predicting!
