Some brands have seen phenomenal growth in registrations over the last decade and others have plunged into oblivion, according to Scrap Car Comparison.
The top 10 Car Brands With The Biggest Growth In The UK were:
Tesla – 339,717% change over last decade
Dacia – 1,434% change over last decade
McLaren – 640% change over last decade
Infiniti – 538% change over last decade
Abarth – 393% change over last decade
Lamborghini – 188% change over last decade
Kia – 147% change over last decade
Maserati – 145% change over last decade
MG – 109% change over last decade
Hyundai – 103% change over last decade
Electric car giant Tesla has seen a whopping 339,717% increase in ownership over the past decade, proving to be an increasingly popular choice among British motorists moving towards BEVs.
Luxury automotive brands have also seen a spike in ownership numbers over recent years, with the likes of McLaren, Lamborghini, Maserati and Porsche all seeing high levels of growth as drivers want to have a classic car which they will enjoy.
Despite previous declines in ownership numbers, the MG brand is experiencing a significant revival, with ownership numbers up 173% in the last five years alone.
But the worst performers were also revealed.
The data reveals that Daewoo has seen the biggest decrease in car ownership in the UK, with only 2,207 licensed cars on British roads at the end of 2023 compared to the 55,987 licensed Daewoo vehicles just 10 years ago in 2013.
Established in 1937 as “National Motors” before changing its name several times until they stopped producing vehicles completely in 2002, it’s only a matter of time before Daewoo cars become fully extinct on UK roads.
Malaysian car manufacturer Proton follows in second place with a steep 87% decrease in ownership. At the end of 2023, only 2,352 licensed cars were registered in the UK, a significant drop from the 18,589 licensed Proton cars in 2013.
Last year, the manufacturer launched its first mild-hybrid electric vehicle model in an attempt to align with global trends toward more sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions, so time will tell if this move results in a resurgence for the brand in the coming years.
Many of the brands becoming endangered species on British roads are similar to Daewoo in that new cars are no longer being produced or sold, such as the currently defunct Rover namesake (87% decline) and LDV (78% decline) which became defunct in 2009.
There are however other manufacturers on the list that are highly active in the UK market, who appear to be losing their popularity with British drivers. These include Renault with a significant 28% drop in ownership numbers since the end of 2013 and fellow French brands Peugeot and Citroen, with a 15% and 9% drop respectively.
Vauxhall, which still accounts for more than 3 million licenced cars in the UK, has also seen a surprising 16% drop in ownership numbers over the last 10 years, with numbers edging closer to dropping below the 3 million mark for the first time in more than 30 years.
David Kottaun, Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison said,“We often look at our own data to spot trends in the specific brands and models that are being scrapped more than others, however it’s been really interesting to gain this wider picture of what car ownership looks like in the UK”.
“Unfortunately, with certain brands no longer producing cars, it’s a certainty that some makes and models will become extinct in time, with certain manufactures becoming a rare sight on our roads”.
“It is however promising to see that it is possible to buck a downward trend, with the resurgence of both MG and Lotus showing that a decline doesn’t have to continue. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more MG models in our scrap yards in time, but only because they’re becoming so popular!”
