- Demand for light commercials rises 3.3% in March 2016 to 63,913 units registered.
- 98,906 vans registered in Q1 – an uplift of 1.2% over the same period last year.
- Growth driven by large vans, with 14.2% rise in March offsetting declines for smaller vehicles.
Wednesday 6 April, 2016 The new van market finished the first three months of the year on a high, with a 3.3% uplift in demand in March, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The 63,913 registrations made in the month represented some two thirds of the quarter’s total volume, with almost 99,000 new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) hitting British roads in the year to date – up 1.2% on the same period in 2015.
The trend towards heavier vehicles continued, with a substantial 14.2% rise in the 2.5-3.5T segment last month, counteracting a decline in registrations of vans weighing less than 2.5T. The 3.5-6T truck sector saw registrations fall slightly by 1.9%, while demand for pickups showed a 5.3% gain in March.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Traditionally one of the busiest months of the year for the new British van market, March’s new 16 plate gave a welcome boost, closing the first quarter on a positive note after a more subdued start to the year. Following the sector’s record performance set in 2015, we expect to see steadier growth over the coming months.”
