Van registrations jumped again in January, helping to keep the overall commercial vehicle market climbing despite an expected drop in truck figures.
In total 18,122 vans were registered, a rise of 12.9 per cent and contributing to rolling-year figures up 13.2 per cent.
As a result the overall CV market was up 5.3 per cent, despite truck registrations dropping back 37 per cent due to businesses having bought heavily in December to avoid new and tighter Euro-6 emissions regulations that became mandatory on 1st January.
According to Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders that compiles the monthly registration figures, more robust business confidence boosted van registrations. “As expected, the pre-Euro-6 rush at the end of last year dented truck volumes in January – a market factor we expect to continue for some months,” he says.
“Looking ahead, SMMT is confident that van registrations will continue to grow at a sustainable rate, while truck demand should level out over the full year,” Hawes adds.
The largest sector of the van market also recorded the biggest growth – 2.5 to 3.5-tonne vehicles surging 27.1 per cent to a January total of 10,274 units. The 2.0-2.5 sector grew three per cent (2,458) while the sub 2-0 market slipped by 12,7 per cent to 2,448 units.
The figures brought more good news for Ford just as the brand stages the launch of the all-new version of by far its most important CV, the Transit. The 4,866 Ford CV sales were up 16.47 per cent to give the blue oval 26.85 per cent of the market, more than double its closest competitor Volkswagen.
