New LCV registrations saw modest growth of 1.5% in August, compared to the same month last year, according to the latest data released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The numbers look even better if you exclude the anomaly of 4×4 registrations, which fell from 611 last August to just 8 this year. Pick-ups and large vans (over 3.5 tonnes) had good growth, but the best results were in the 2.0-2.5 tonne van sector, with registrations up 40% on the same month last year. The 2.5-3.5 tonne sector, which is the largest sector in the LCV market, was steady and smaller vans (less than 2.0 tonnes) continued their decline as customers looked towards larger vehicles for better efficiency.
The 2.5-3.5 tonne sector, which is the largest sector in the LCV market, was steady and smaller vans (less than 2.0 tonnes) continued their decline as customers looked towards larger vehicles for better efficiency.
August is a slow month of the year, with new number plates arriving in September, although it’s not as pronounced as the swings in the passenger car market.
To absolutely no-one’s surprise, Ford dominated the results for approximately the one millionth month in a row (we’ll check that exact figure and get back to you). The mid-size Transit Connect remains at the top of the charts, ahead of its bigger and smaller siblings. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Transporter rose to fourth and fifth places, ahead of the Peugeot Boxer, Vauxhall Vivaro, Peugeot Partner, Citroën Berlingo and Volkswagen Caddy.
