Number one again – as Vauxhall proves big hit with retail buyers

It’s a fourth number one for Vauxhall in 2007, with Griffin-badged cars proving the most popular choices for both retail and fleet customers in October.

With a total share of 14.95 per cent, an increase of 1.62 percentage points against the same period in 2006, Vauxhall led the market for the fourth month this year. The Astra proved to be Britain’s most popular car with 8,804 sales, while total sales of 24,938 new cars were almost 2,500 ahead of the company’s nearest rival.

As well as the best-selling Astra, New Corsa and Zafira topping their respective segments, the evergreen Vectra outsold its closest, newly launched competitor by more than 40 per cent in the all-important retail sector.

Other success in the ultra-competitive retail market included New Corsa – the best-selling car to private buyers, notching up 3,880 sales – and Astra and Zafira, which were also top choices in their sectors.

Vauxhall Managing Director, Bill Parfitt, said: “To be Number One again in October shows how hard we have worked to drive sales over the past few years – our efforts are paying off, and this is no more evident than it is in the private retail sector, where customers are spending their own money. To be in first position here is a real achievement.”

Up to the end of October, Vauxhall had sold 291,228 cars in the UK in 2007, an increase of 10.37 per cent over the same period in 2006.