- Van and truck registrations up 3.0% to 20,681 in July, rolling year up 21.6% to 287,778.
- Truck registrations up 27.5% to 3,519 in July, rolling year up 21.6% to 39,042.
- Van registrations down -0.8% to 17,162 in July; rolling year up 21.6% to 248,641.
UK van and truck registrations: 2011 and % change on 2010
| July | % change | Year-to-date | % change | Rolling year | % change | |
| Vans | 17,162 | -0.8% | 150,400 | 20.7% | 248,736 | 21.6% |
| Trucks | 3,519 | 27.5% | 22,411 | 25.7% | 39,042 | 21.6% |
| Total | 20,681 | 3.0% | 172,811 | 21.4% | 287,778 | 21.6% |
“July saw the first drop in the volume of vans registered following 17 consecutive monthly increases, reflecting a more uncertain period for the economy,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “Truck figures rose by 27.5%, the tenth successive monthly rise and while industry remains cautious, expectations for the remainder of 2011 are optimistic, with van and truck figures looking set to reach 300,000 units by year-end.”
Commercial vehicle market overview
- Van registrations grew strongly from the end of the recession in 2009/early 2010. July’s market saw this trend change as the recovery phase of the cycle subsides.
- Underlying annual van registration volume is back to near 250,000 units – a significant recovery given the 190,000 unit benchmark typical at the bottom of the recent recession.
- Over the past 10 months artics have led the rebound in truck demand; in contrast, recovery in the rigid sectors below 16TGVW has been weak, delayed and subdued.
- For the truck sector >6T GVW total registration volume is up by a cumulative 5,761 units for the seven months to July 2011 on the same period in 2010 – 81% of that is due to growth in artics.
- For the second half of 2011, the outlook is for more weak GDP growth and high inflation, which may inhibit sustainable growth in van and truck registrations. Volumes should hold above current levels of annual registration volumes, but the outlook is both challenging and uncertain.
Click through to download the full July 2011 commercial vehicle registrations news release and data tables, which includes a more detailed analysis of the figures.
