The UK’s van producers are helping to fuel a strong rise in commercial vehicle manufacturing.
According to April production figures compiled by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), plants such as that at Luton building Vauxhall’s Vivaro have contributed to a 36.8 per cent surge in UK commercial vehicle production compared to April 2014.
A total of 8,629 vans, trucks and buses came out of the UK’s commercial plants in the month as the market recovered from recent restructuring.
So far in 2015 32,064 CVs have been built – up 23.6 per cent on the same period in 2014.
Volumes have been driven by rising demand from operators in the UK but the European market is now increasingly rallying.
April saw a 50.1 per cent surge in manufacture for export, CV registrations across the EU having risen 13 per cent so far this year.
According to SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes the figures are further evidence that commercial vehicle manufacturing in the UK has turned a corner after a period of restructuring.
“April’s significant rise in exports is particularly encouraging, as the industry capitalises on increasing demand for vans, trucks and buses across Europe,” Hawes says.
