The Ford Fiesta is no longer Britain's best-selling car

The Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing global microchip shortage has led to a surprising reshuffle in the UK's best-selling cars – with the previously unbeatable Ford Fiesta no longer making the top list.

Data released this week by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveals that the Vauxhall Corsa was the best-selling car in the UK in 2021 with 40,914 registered over the year. It was followed by the Tesla Model 3 and MINI Hatch – while the Ford Fiesta didn't even make the top 10.

Previously, the Fiesta was number one for 12 consecutive years, while Ford topped the standings for an incredible 50 years – with models like the Cortina, Sierra, Escort and Focus. The brand says the change is not reflective of a loss in popularity for its small hatch – rather, a shift in priorities during the microchip shortage.

“Ford prioritised vehicle supply in a difficult year, with the pandemic ongoing and semiconductor shortages affecting the entire automotive industry, to grow commercial vehicle sales and meet the demand and loyalty to the Transit brand," said Ford of Britain's managing director, Lisa Brankin.

Commercial vehicles have seen a particular boom in popularity during the last two years, thanks to increased demand for home delivery services and even private buyers looking to convert them into alternative 'staycation' accommodation. That's why, if you chuck vans into the mix, the Ford Transit Custom was the most popular vehicle on sale in 2021 – ahead of the best-selling Vauxhall Corsa.

More than 53,000 Ford Transit Customs were registered in 2021, while more than 34,000 of the larger Transits were sold. Shifting the focus away from cars like the Fiesta to vans will have been a wise commercial decision, too – small hatchbacks have much smaller profit margins than commercial vehicles.