VOLKSWAGEN overtook Audi as the most popular manufacturer on the leasing market in March.

The new league tables, released by Leasing.com, show the Golf and the Tiguan have propelled Volkswagen to the top of the list.

Whilst VW has taken the manufacturers’ crown, there’s a new leader in the models list. And it’s a Brit. Vauxhall has been a British brand since 1903 and its new Corsa has overtaken the Audi A3 as the most enquired about vehicle on Leasing.com in March of this year.

The rapid ascension of Vauxhall is encouraging in a time of economic uncertainty and the challenge of Brexit. The British manufacturer was sat in 10^th place in February and has only previously reached a high of 9^th since January 2020. This rise is a direct result of the Corsa, lifting the auto maker to 6^th place in March with preliminary figures showing the brand is expected to hit 4^th in April.

As Britain returns to the roads post lockdown, leasing is expected to continue to rise past the 16% increase Leasing.com has already seen from March 2020 to March 2021.

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Paul Harrison, Leasing.com Head of Strategic Partnerships, said: “Smaller, more efficient cars are on the rise as we emerge out of lockdown. This is predominantly due to cost saving measures and the way vehicles are being used.

“Many people are downsizing and saving money where they can. With flexible working, long commutes are no longer as common, so models that have been historically popular are losing their foothold and cost-effective leasing plans are on the rise.”

This trend is being seen across all brands. Whilst Mercedes has dropped out of the top spot, it is returning to form with a slow creep back up the charts, going from 8th in February to 7th in March, predominantly driven by its entry level hatchback, the A Class.

The EV market is also seeing some changes. Tesla, the market leader, is losing traction in the leasing market. This is due to other manufacturers making significant gains in the EV sector with South Korea’s Hyundai taking the top spot in March. However, Volkswagen is hot on its wheels: the new ID3 is gaining more and more market share through affordable offers for personal and business users.

Top 10 car manufacturers:

1. Volkswagen
2. Audi
3. Land Rover
4. BMW
5. Volvo
6. Vauxhall
7. Mercedes-Benz
8. Ford
9. Skoda
10. Nissan

Top 10 personal enquiries:

1. Vauxhall Corsa
2. Audi A3
3. Volkswagen Golf
4. Volkswagen Tiguan
5. Volvo XC40
6. Range Rover Evoque
7. Nissan Qashqai
8. Cupra Formentor
9. Range Rover Sport
10. Mercedes-Benz A-Class