Shining a light on new sales

Published on 7 February, 2021

Overview

That new car registrations were only down nearly 18pc in January on the same time last year shows a remarkable resilience by the motor industry in the face of the pandemic and probably demonstrates there is pretty good value out there.

However it is interesting that used-car imports have started to rise again - despite Brexit it is still worth going to our nearest neighbours. Nearly 7,000 used cars were imported compared to just over 25,000 new.

While Toyota was in runaway form as top-selling maker, it was the Hyundai Tucson, which I reviewed last week, that took first place for the most popular model sold. The new Tucson sold 1,516 units, according to SIMI figures.

Tucson sales were nearly 20pc up on January 2020 while last year's best-seller, the Toyota Corolla, had a slump of 22pc to 1,262 sales. In third place the Toyota Rav4's sales rose 32pc (841 units).

The decline in overall sales was felt roughly the same by most makers although Peugeot was the only car importer in the top 10 to increase volume sold (up 3.5pc) while Ford only went down 2pc. It was a bad month for Nissan and Renault, both dropping 33pc.

Going down to the next 10 there were three manufacturers who could boast increases. It was good to see Opel up 34pc, Citroen an amazing 48pc and Suzuki 7pc.

If you combine the passenger car and light commercial market it was the previously much-loved but now reinvigorated Opel brand which delivered the strongest year-on-year volume growth.

Re-entering the top ten sales podium, with a combined market share of 3.3pc, the German brand saw a vigorous 73pc increase on January 2020.

James Brooks, managing director at Leeson Motors, Opel importer in Ireland, said this performance, was "driven by strong retail demand together with our inherent strength in fleet business".

Armed with a new signature, logo and corporate identity, Opel will bring to market no fewer than eight new models this year, also rapidly ramping up its electrification programme. This year will be critical for Opel.

The fairly impressive Opel Crossland has just arrived in showrooms, the first in the range to sport the new Opel Vizor front styling. I'll be reporting on it before the end of the month.

The all-new 100pc electric Vivaro-e light commercial, recently voted International Van of the Year 2021, arrives later this month together with its passenger car Zafira-e Life version.

I am excited about the all-important new Mokka, due in April. It is a bit more robust looking than the Crossland and has a full EV option. It will really show off where Opel is going.

Meanwhile Hyundai was very chuffed with its performance with the Tucson.

Stephen Gleeson, managing director at Hyundai, said it was delighted to see the Tucson at No.1 in the market.

He said the key to its success is its striking new design with the "ability of our dealer network to give honest advice to consumers as to the correct engine type for them".

The maker's overall market-share performance (2,731 units or 10.8% of the market) is satisfying "given we are still waiting on deliveries of the all-new Santa Fe 7 seat PHEV as well as supplies of the all-new i20," he said.

Toyota took the lead as Ireland's best-selling car brand with a 15pc market share last month and 93pc of all those sales were hybrid.

In powertrain terms, hybrid has had a significant year-on-year market share increase with a 42pc jump in popularity, and now accounts for almost 20pc of the entire new car market.

"Considering overall market penetration for hybrid cars was at 5.5pc just three years ago, the consumer mindset shift towards more sustainable motoring is really gathering pace now and the tide is starting to turn against higher-emitting vehicles like diesel," said Steve Tormey, chief executive of Toyota Ireland.

*****

Last week in discussing the Hyundai Tucson I noted how one reader was disappointed with the lighting on the car and asked if there was a certain standard of light output in lumens the car makers have to achieve to pass tests in Europe.

After I had submitted my column I got a good explanation from Hyundai about lighting rules.

"A guideline of 1,300-1,500 lumens per lamp can be achieved from modern-day lamps with Zenon lamps possibly going over 2,000 lumens," the company wrote.

"Regulations don't really apply to the minimum output in lumens but rather than the max amount - logic being that any vehicles tested must have a sufficient lumens output in order to conduct a valid test.

"Testing is conducted to prove that lamp intensity regardless of max lumens output is controlled when dipped to prevent blinding of oncoming drivers etc.

"LED lamps give off what is technically called directional light as in they emit light in a specific direction and are manufactured specifically in a shape to direct light.

"They do not light up the ditches but rather have a long seeing range, and do not blind pedestrians and others Moving from older technology wide-beam lighting, this more advanced concept may seem strange but is definitely the safer option."

As a footnote, my reader decided to purchase a Kia Sportage mild-hybrid from Hyundai's sister brand as, he says, although it is "not as striking as the Tucson it has a far better set of headlights".

*****

I referenced above the success last month of Opel, Peugeot and Citroen all of which are, or will be, hunkered down at Gowan House in Dublin's Naas Road. Joining them will be the DS brand which is the luxury spin-off from Citroen.

DS claims it is "driven by the spirit of the avant-garde and backed by an exceptional heritage - that of the 1955 DS - (and) aims to embody French luxury savoir-faire in the automotive industry".

The DS7 and DS3 models will be on sale shortly followed by DS9 later this year.

On Wednesday I tuned into the press conference to launch the DS4, which looks like a really classy premium C sector model.

There was an awful lot of talk about "refinement engineered" and "perfect balance between efficiency and power".

It won't be here until next year but don't be surprised if the DS range does well.

It definitely puts itself out there.