Scots keep faith in VW as sales rise

Sales of the Volkswagen Group cars actually increased north of the border last month with latest car registration figures showing that Scots motorists have kept their faith in Volkswagen and its Audi, Seat and Skoda brands.

The Wolfsburg-based motor giant has been engulfed by the diesel emissions cheating scandal in which “defeat device” software was used by by VW to cheat engine emissions tests.

However, September saw 3,959 new Volkswagen cars registered to drivers in Scotland compared to 3,768 in September 2014 –a five per cent year-on-year increase.

The figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that sales of all Volkswagen brands were up in Scotland.

Audi increased sales of new cars by almost seven per cent, from 2,208 in September 2014 to 2,360 last month, while sales of brand new Seats rising from 814 to 972 – a 19 per cent year-on-year growth.

Skoda experienced an 18 per cent year-on-year boost in new car registrations, from 978 to 1,157.

Volkswagen revealed last week that almost 1.2 million of its UK vehicles are fitted with a defeat device to cheat emissions tests.

The scandal hit the headlines on September 18 in the middle of what is traditionally one of the busiest months of the year for new car sales in the UK due to the number plate change.

The SMMT figures also showed that total sales of new cars in September were up 4.07 per cent in Scotland, to 43,554.

Meanwhile, total new car sales for the year to date are up 1.81 per cent – lagging behind the UK average of 7.61 per cent.

Sandy Burgess, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA), said the figures were “none the less most encouraging” given Scottish dealers dependence on the retail market while England attracts a larger share of large fleet registrations.

Mr Burgess added: “We are now seeing some movement in the business car registration numbers which will help to maintain the activity for the coming months as this has been quite quiet to date.

“Dealers have reported that the conditions in the month were ‘challenging’ but the fact that such a level of growth has been recorded despite the controversy that was raised in the middle of the month with the VW emissions issue, it is obvious that the active marketing and strong incentives have maintained the momentum which should mean that 2015 will finish ahead of 2014.”

The most popular make and model of new car among Scots motorists in September remained the Vauxhall Corsa, followed by the Ford Fiesta and the Renault Clio.

Demand for new cars was highest in the Central Belt regions of Strathclyde and Lothian, while sales in rural areas such as Grampian and the Borders were down on September 2014.