The all-new Luton-built Vivaro’s popularity played a major part in the success, which saw Vauxhall LCV numbers grow by around 8,000 units in 2019, to a total of 36,000 sales. In December alone, Vivaro recorded a 14.2 per cent month-on-month segment increase versus 2018, with around 3,200 sales.

Over one-million Vivaros have now been built at Vauxhall’s Luton plant – the only one of its kind in the UK – and with class-leading credentials and multiple body styles, it’s no surprise that Vivaro is stealing a march on its rivals.

The recently launched Combo Cargo also played a supporting role in Vauxhall LCV’s success, increasing its month-on-month segment share in December by 17.5 per cent, versus 2018, taking it to the segment’s number-one spot.

Vauxhall passenger cars also continued to hold their own in what was a challenging year for the motor industry. The Insignia maintained is segment-leading position by the end of the year, and even in its run-out phase, the previous generation Corsa still finished 2019 in its segment’s number-two spot, helped by being the UK’s best-selling car overall in September alone.

In December, the Combo Life and Crossland X family models also led their segments, with the popular Grandland X SUV in the number-two spot.

Overall, 2019 was a transitional year for Vauxhall, with two model lines being dropped (Mokka X and ADAM), and a ramp-down in outgoing Corsa sales in Q4 ahead of the new model arriving this month. Yet the strength of the company’s sales performance in other areas resulted in only a small decrease from a volume of 205,000 in 2018, to just under 200,000 last year.

However, 2020 is set to be a landmark year for the company, with four new electric/hybrid models added to its range, capitalising on the UK’s increasing appetite for cleaner and greener mobility. Leading the charge will be Vauxhall’s first hybrid model, the 300PS, all-wheel-drive Grandland X Hybrid4, followed closely by the all-new Corsa-e, with its 209-mile range.

And after a short hiatus, the Mokka name will return later this year, but not only will it grace an all-new model, but one with full-electric capability, too.

Finally, the success enjoyed by Vauxhall’s new Vivaro LCV in 2019 is set for an even higher level in 2020, as the all-electric Vivaro-e joins the range.