Over the past 20 years we have seen an influx of cars on our roads, but which brands have seen the biggest growth in the number of new cars registered?
Using Government data, we’ve been able to analyse the growth rate of the fastest growing car brands over the last 20 years, and spotted some surprising trends. This includes a 'luxury car' boom and how British automaker MG has made a comeback.
Check out our interactive graphic here.
The MG comeback
All brands aim to increase their sales year by year, but few can match the growth that MG has enjoyed recently. The MG; a classical car which is looked at as one of the pinnacles of British motoring, was established way back in the 1920’s. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the MG had a growth rate of 337%. However, between the years of 2008 and 2012 it increased to 469% and this spike has continued to grow, with a recent growth rate of 782%, making it the fastest growing car brand of 2017 in the UK. Between 2013 and 2017, the number of new cars registered went from 473 to 4171.
Arrival of Tesla
Elon Musk seems to be everywhere all at once at the minute, pushing all kinds of incredible new technologies, with Tesla being one of them. If the arrival of Tesla in the UK market is anything to go by, our roads will be dominated by electric cars in the very near future. Tesla has had a 621% growth rate between 2013 and 2017 and at the end of last year, was in the top 3 fastest growing car brands.
Since its inception in 2003, Tesla has pushed the development of electric cars at a rate unmatched by any mainstream manufacturer. With niche cars like the Roadster and high-end electric cars like the Model S, Tesla has gained a core following in the UK car market. Other car brands that are growing fast include Infiniti, Ssangyong and Abarth.
The rise of the luxury car
Britain’s love for the luxury car is on the rise, with new car registrations increasing year on year. Brands including Porsche, Mclaren and Lamborghini are among the key automotive firms stimulating the surge. The increase of luxury cars could be down to an increase in consumer confidence after several years of austerity. Bentley has seen the biggest percentage growth over the past 20 years - particularly between 2003 and 2007 - with a 766% growth rate: In 2003 the number of new cars registered stood at 172, and in just 4 years, this increased to 1,490.
Between 2008 and 2012 McLaren had a surge in registrations, and this looks set to continue in the future. After recently just delivering its 15,000th car in just seven years of production, it has seen a 581% growth rate in the last four years. However it looks like the McLaren could get knocked off the luxury car sales top spot, as the findings show Maserati is making a come back, with a 506% growth rate in the last four years.
To find out which other brands have been leading the way over the past 20 years, check out our interactive graphic here.
