All posts by Macfivenews

Motoring and travel journalist, opinionated gob on a stick
MG, Motoring news

MG celebrates record year

Leave a comment

SALES GROW BY ALMOST TWO-THIRDS

MG Motor UK has rounded off a record-breaking year by achieving an annual sales increase of almost two-thirds, achieving 30,600 registrations in 2021. 

The total cements MG’s position as the UK’s fastest-growing mainstream car brand both in terms of sales and the expansion of its dealer network, which saw over 30 new dealerships join the brand in 2021 as it continues to develop its market position and its reputation for offering great quality, value and equipment levels across its entire range of EV and petrol vehicles. 

The 30,000th new MG of 2021 was registered in December, as the company smashed all of its previous records, exceeding 2020’s total of 18,415 cars by a staggering 12,185 sales.

Aside from specialist and EV-only makers, MG also recorded the highest sales growth of any brand in the country’s top 27 car manufacturers. 

MG finished the year ahead of a number of established brands, including Renault, Mazda, Honda, Citroen, Suzuki, Dacia, Fiat and Jaguar, while the launch of its New ZS EV in November further strengthened its position in the sales charts. In November 2021, the ZS was featured in the UK’s top 10 sellers – the first time an MG has achieved this in the brand’s 98-year history. 

MG Motor UK Commercial Director, Guy Pigounakis, said: “2021 will go down in history as the year in which MG really made its mark in the UK car market, but we’re not resting on our laurels. We’ve got a refreshed, engaged and highly motivated dealer network, thousands of satisfied customers and the best model range we’ve ever had.

“Our model range is set for further expansion in 2022, as is our dealer network. This is a sustainable, long-term approach to growing our market presence, having already positioned ourselves as a leader in affordable EVs and great value, high quality cars.”

MG currently offers six models in the UK including three plug-in cars – the New MG ZS EV, the New MG5 EV and MG HS Plug-in Hybrid – all backed up by MG’s comprehensive manufacturer’s 7-year warranty and rapidly developing dealer network.

To find your local dealer, or to discover the high-tech, value-for-money range of cars on offer, please visit MG.CO.UK.

Executive, Motoring news, Volvo

Volvo powers ahead with sales

Leave a comment
Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin
Volvo XC40 is the best seller in the UK

Increased market share in 2021

Swedish car giant Volvo has powered ahead in 2021, despite the global pandemic affecting car sales and raw material shortages worldwide.

Volvo Car UK recorded growth in both its new car sales volume and its market share in 2021.

In total, 48,260 new Volvo cars were registered in the UK, an increase of four per cent on 2020’s figure, outperforming the market as a whole, where volume grew by one per cent. As a result, the company’s market share rose from 2.85 to 2.93 per cent.

Central to this performance was the success of Volvo’s fast-expanding Recharge range of electrified – plug-in hybrid petrol-electric and pure electric – models: with sales more than doubling to 15,376 units year-on-year, these accounted for 32 per cent of all Volvo’s UK sales in 2021. Order books show that proportion rising to more than one third (37 per cent) of the total, reflecting the momentum of growth in customer demand for low- and zero-emission cars.

This strong UK performance has contributed to Volvo Cars’ global growth. Worldwide, the business saw its sales rise by nearly 6% to 698,693 units; international Recharge model sales increased by 64 per cent compared with 2020.

The XC40 compact SUV was again Volvo’s UK best-seller – its total sales of 25,242 units reaffirming it as the country’s most popular premium SUV for a second consecutive year. The XC40 was also the third-best-selling plug-in hybrid car of all in the UK in 2021. The mid-size XC60 and large luxury XC90 SUVs held second and third places in Volvo’s rankings, with 10,131 and 7,221 sales respectively.

The high demand for Volvo products extended to the pre-owned market, with the Volvo Selekt Approved Used Car operation recording 32,401 sales – up 12% on 2020’s business, despite reduced supply.

Matt Galvin, Volvo Car UK Commercial Operations Director, said: “This continues to be a challenging time for the automotive industry, but these excellent results demonstrate how the strength of our products and the way we are adapting our business are inspiring customer confidence. Having seized the initiative with our Recharge electrified model range, and by progressing towards all-digital car sales, we are reaping the rewards of innovation while preserving the qualities and values that are central to our brand.”

Kristian Elvefors, Volvo Car UK Managing Director, said: “It is hugely rewarding for everyone at Volvo to see their hard work and dedication delivering this strong sales performance. My thanks go to them, and to the growing number of consumers who are making Volvo their preferred choice. I am confident that the coming year has the potential to deliver greater rewards as we expand our Recharge portfolio and continue to evolve business models that address new consumer preferences for accessing mobility.”

For more information on the Volvo range, and to use the online configurator, please go to www.volvocars.co.uk