The Ford Fiesta has retained its crown as the UK’s top-selling car, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). In June, total car sales were up 3.5 per cent in the UK month-on-month and 2.7 per cent up on the corresponding month in 2011, indicating better times for the country’s motor industry.

Ford Fiesta sales for the year to date now stand at 59,570, with the model’s success ascribed to a wide variety of options available to consumers. Meanwhile, the Ford Transit remained at the top of the list in the medium commercial vehicle segment, with sales up in June to 5,016 and accounting for nearly one-third of sales in the segment for the year to date.

Mark Ovenden, managing director of Ford of Britain, said he was “delighted” with the company’s success last month, particularly amid such strong competition from other manufacturers. ” Our best-ever product range is a key contributor to our strengthened leadership position and with the new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in Focus and the new Focus ST now launched to considerable media and customer acclaim, we are keenly anticipating the new Ford B-MAX and the new Ford Transit, due later this year,” he said.