Premium brands buck small decline in used car sales

Premium brands buck small decline in used car sales

4x4, MPV, mini and electric vehicles also perform better
1.7 million cars changed hands from July – September
Scottish dealerships enjoy uplift across the board

Nottingham, UK, 30 November 2011 – Experian^®, the global information services company, today published its UK used car sales statistics for the third quarter of 2011.

Sales of premium brand used vehicles, led by BMWs and Audis, bucked a small decline in sales volumes with year-on-year increases of 2.76 per cent and 8.57 per cent respectively. By contrast, the luxury car segment led the fall in sales with a 7.85 per cent drop compared to 2010.

1,749,417 used cars were sold during July, August and September, a 2.88 per cent decrease in sales when compared to Q3 2010 (1,801,258) and also a drop of 0.71 per cent since Q2 2011 (1,761,916).

Despite the majority of segments seeing a sales decrease, the 4x4 (including Range Rover Sports and BMW X5), MPV (including Vauxhall Zafira and the Renault Scenic) and mini (Smart Fortwo and Fiat Seicento) categories all saw rises compared to Q3 2010 of 2.56 per cent, 0.87 per cent and 0.59 per cent respectively. Sales of electric models were 25 per cent higher than in Q3 2011.

Regionally, the North West saw the biggest decline compared to Q3 2010, with sales down by 4.61 per cent. Scotland was the only region to see an uplift in sales both year-on-year and since last quarter (0.60 and 1.91 per cent respectively).

Alistair Scullion, Managing Director of Experian Automotive in the UK and Ireland, commented: “Despite the slight drop in used car sales this quarter, the strong performance of the 4x4, MPV and mini categories and the continuing popularity of higher end brands points to growth opportunities in a challenging market environment.”

“The use of market and business intelligence highlights the changing market dynamics that can help dealers to optimise their stock mix in line with market demands.”

Source: Experian’s MarketView Online and the DVLA

Source: Experian’s MarketView Online and the DVLA

Source: Experian’s MarketView Online and the DVLA

Source: Experian’s MarketView Online and the DVLA

ENDS

Contact:

Natalie Hale 

0115 992 2645/07971 709274

natalie.hale@uk.experian.com

About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 90 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2010 was $3.9 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; Costa Mesa, California; and São Paulo, Brazil. 

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com .