Ford was market leader during the month, selling 475 vehicles to give it 13.6% market share. Ford’s sales climbed almost 52% in a year-on-year comparison.

Opel was runner-up, selling 395 vehicles to give it 11.3% market share, and Skoda was in third place with 373 vehicles sold, giving it 10.7% market share.

The most popular models in January were the Ford Focus, with 308 sold, the Skoda Octavia, 275 sold, and the Opel Astra, 218 sold.

Sales of Honda, Toyota and Peugeot all fell more than 8% in January from the same month a year earlier.