Near record commercial vehicle market in June
- Total market up 1.2 per cent.
- Light vans down 6.7 per cent.
- Medium vans up 12.4 per cent.
- Heavy vans and light trucks up 40.8 per cent.
- 7.5 tonne trucks down 13.8 per cent.
- 15 tonne, two axle rigids down 10.1 per cent.
- Artics down 11.7 per cent.
- Buses and coaches down 17.8 per cent.
CV registrations grew 1.2 per cent in June to give the third highest June
in the last 13 years. Year to date registrations are up by 2.2 per cent over
the same time last year. The market is doing better than expected and volumes
should match last year’s strong performance, driven by the performance of medium
vans, heavy vans and light trucks.
Light vans, under 1.8 tonnes, down 6.7 per cent.
Registrations for vans under 1.8 tonnes fell by 6.7 per cent. This sector
had shown solid growth so far this year but June’s drop brings the June year
to date total to 41,092 units or 1.5 per cent up on the same six months last
year.
Medium vans, 2.6 to 3.5 tonnes, up 12.4 per cent.
Registrations for 2.6 to 3.5 tonne vans were very good, up 12.4 per cent for
June. Year to date registrations are also strong with 15.7 per cent growth compared
to the same six months last year. 4×4 registrations grew 339 units or 60.6 per
cent for the month, but year to date registrations are still 13 per cent lower
than last year.
Heavy vans and light trucks, 3.5 to 7.4 tonnes, up 40.8 per cent.
Demand for 3.5 – 7.4 tonne trucks was good with registrations up by 40.8 per
cent or 122 units. This sector is expected to grow steadily in the long term
as the results of driver licence changes take gradual effect.
7.5 tonne trucks down 13.8 per cent.
The biggest single sector in the UK truck market, 7.5 tonne trucks saw a 13.8
per cent drop in registrations in June to 1,232 units. This sector is also expected
to very slowly decline following changes to truck driving licences in 1997.
15 tonne, two axle rigids down 10.1 per cent.
Heavy two axle rigid registrations dropped 10.1 per cent to 668 units in June,
but the sector is still up 3.5 per cent on year to date registrations. Four-axle
rigids rose 56.7 per cent or 115 units for June.
Artics down 11.7 per cent.
Artic registrations dropped in June with the total down by 11.7 per cent. The
figures show that registrations of all artic types are down on last year, but
still above the long-term average.
Buses and coaches down 17.8 per cent.
Easing decline in the bus and coach market saw registrations fall 17.8 per
cent in June. But this compares with particularly strong growth in registrations
of 21.6 per cent in June 2000. Structural changes in the bus market should see
sales improve toward the year-end.
Comment
‘June CV registrations are above last year’ figures and at near record levels.
We’ve only seen registrations this high three times in the last 13 years, said
SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan. ‘The trend of the past twelve months
is still above the annual registration forecast and very encouraging.’
