The Vauxhall Corsa has taken over as the UK’s best-selling new car, with 40,914 sold in 2021. The popular supermini outsold every other model in the UK last year, in figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The latest generation Vauxhall Corsa launched at the end of 2019 and is available with a fully electric powertrain and a choice of advanced and efficient petrol and diesel engines. This is the first time it has topped the annual new car sales chart in the UK and sees a new brand at the top of the standings for the first time in 50 years.

The 100% electric Corsa-e was one of the best-selling small electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK last year, accounting for 5,605 of total Corsa registrations. Corsa-e sales increased by 97 per cent last year on 2020.

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “The Vauxhall Corsa fully deserves to be back at the top of the UK sales charts as the nation’s favourite new car. Alongside its design, innovative technology and affordable pricing, a full choice of powertrain technologies has been very popular – with customers able to choose between the fully-electric Corsa-e or our efficient petrol and diesel engines. We’ve just enhanced the range of the Corsa-e and made it even more attainable so we’re confident that Corsa will continue to prove popular with UK buyers.”

With a total of 125,805 vehicles sold in the UK across 2021, Vauxhall sold more than 91,452 cars throughout the year and accounted for 5.55 per cent of the UK new car market. Vauxhall’s retail market share, sales to private customers, grew at one of the fastest rates in the industry, up 0.6 of a percentage point from 4.76 per cent to 5.36 per cent.

The most popular colour among Corsa models sold in 2021 was Quartz Grey, followed by Jade White and Diamond Black. First launched in 1993, there have been five generations of the Vauxhall Corsa since it arrived on UK roads. Over two million Vauxhall Corsa models have been sold in the UK since launch, with over 13.5 million models sold in Europe.

The success of the Corsa comes as Vauxhall continues the expansion of its electrification strategy. Across cars and LCVs, Vauxhall already offers five fully-electric models and, following the launch of All-new Astra, two plug-in hybrid models.

With a fully electric Light Commercial Vehicle line-up already available, Vauxhall is set to offer an electrified variant across its entire model line-up by 2024, and has committed to selling only electric models from 2028 – seven years before the UK Government deadline.

Vauxhall also recently announced its commitment to manufacture a compact electric van at its Ellesmere Port plant later this year.