MPVs still doing well despite downturn in market

The latest used car sales statistics from Experian show that the used MPV segment is delivering resilient performance despite sales of larger engine vehicles falling during October to December 2008.

Vehicles with larger engines, including the used luxury, executive, sports and upper medium segments all saw significant falls in sales. However, the used MPV segment was the only vehicle type to see sales increase significantly throughout the country (up 7.9 per cent).

Furthermore, Experian's analysis shows that Greater London is the country's MPV hotspot - which grew by 19.0 per cent during the last three months of 2008.

In addition, sales of used 4x4s in Greater London bucked the national trend and increased by 14.1 per cent during quarter four. The only other region to see an increase in the sale of used 4x4s during this period was the North - up by just 0.2 per cent.

Over all, across the country, used car sales fell by 8.5 per cent during October, November and December, bringing the used car sales figures for the year to 7,179,796 - down 4.9 per cent on 2007.

Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian's Automotive division, said, "The latest used car sales statistics show that despite a greater focus on smaller, more economical vehicles, the fall in sales for the used supermini and mini segments were still on a par with, for example, the upper medium and the sports segments. It indicates that even in a downturn there is a certain degree of reluctance to downgrade in size.

"In the current environment, this kind of insight is crucial for dealers to help them identify which used vehicle types are proving most popular with buyers. Experian's MarketView Online can help dealers analyse specific markets, understand key market trends, forecast and benchmark sales, plan stocking levels for used cars and quantify opportunities for vehicle servicing."