The Ford Focus clinches a decisive victory, emerging as the most scrapped used car in 2023, according to insights from a Freedom of Information request. A substantial 798,363 used cars bid farewell this year, meeting their end at the scrapping yard.
Examining data from January to October, Autocar compiled the figures, revealing a notable decrease in scrapped vehicles compared to the same period in 2022, which saw 857,107 cars removed from the roads. Among the casualties, 42,637 Ford Focus models faced the crusher, securing its position as the most crushed car of the year.
Following closely, the Vauxhall Astra claimed second place with 35,578 scrapped models, while the Vauxhall Corsa took the third spot with 34,405 vehicles meeting their demise. The data highlights a monthly scrappage rate of nearly 80,000 cars, contrasting sharply with the registration of over 1,889,758 new cars and LCVs during the same period.
- Ford Focus – 42,637
- Vauxhall Astra – 35,578
- Vauxhall Corsa – 34,405
- Ford Fiesta – 32,935
- Volkswagen Golf – 25,903
- Vauxhall Zafira – 16,898
- Renault Clio – 15,955
- Ford Mondeo – 14,218
- Volkswagen Polo – 13,722
- BMW 3 Series – 13,642
Mark Tisshaw, editor of Autocar, observed, "It is telling that nearly 60,000 fewer cars and vans were scrapped in 2023 than during the same period in 2022. The rising cost of living is likely to be a factor, prompting motorists to hold on to their vehicles for longer – a situation not helped by uncertainty among consumers over making the switch to electric."
