Highest April CV registrations since 1990
- Total CV registrations in April up 4.0 per cent
- Light commercial vehicle registrations up 5.4 per cent
- New truck registrations down 2.2 per cent
- Bus & coach registrations up 7.0 per cent
Total CV registrations in April up 4.0 per cent
April’s return to growth took CV registrations to 105,475 over the first four
months, 3.0 per cent ahead of the total for the same period in 2001. This April
saw growth of 4.0 per cent on the 25,458 registrations in April 2001.
This April saw the highest registration volume for the month since the 26,799
CVs registered in April 1990. The all time record for the month is 33,581, set
in 1989. In that year there were over 371,000 CV registrations.
‘April saw CV registrations continuing to grow, hitting the highest April
figures for 12 years,’ said SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan. ‘Future
monthly registration figures should also show those continuing positive results.’
The April bounce-back confirmed the strength, diversity and continued growth
at the lighter end of the market. Year-on-year truck registrations are down
for the third successive month, but still above the long-term average. Most
analysts expect a slightly weaker new CV market for 2002 as a whole. However,
the domestic economy, most especially for households, is positive. The firm
evidence that the USA economy is recovering suggests that market trends and
forecasts for the year will be increasingly positive, as was the case last year.
The SMMT expects annual CV registrations to fall by just 3.6 per cent to 302,000
for 2002. This is due to expectations of softer markets through the summer giving
lower registrations from September to December.
Light commercial vehicle registrations up 5.4 per cent
LCV registrations were up by 1,059 or 5.4 per cent in April. However, as in
March three low volume segments in the market up to 3.5t gvw recorded significant
growth.
Car type pick-ups again shot up, this month by 54.6 per cent to 722. 4×4 utilities
were up 46.2 per cent to 649. Micro van registrations were up 15.7 per cent
to 265.
Strong demand for a variety of heavier vans in the 2.6 to 3.5 tonne segment
has driven the overall market forward for the past year and a half. This momentum
paused in March.
In April 11,868 registrations represented a confident return to year on year
growth at 10.4 per cent. Registration growth in this sector has been nearly
constant since January 1998.
New truck registrations down 2.2 per cent
As in February and March, growth in truck registrations dipped in April, down
2.2 per cent. At April the total rigid market was down by 1.6 per cent and artic
registrations fell 3.6 per cent. For the first four months all truck registrations
were down by 3.9 per cent, but just 1.6 per cent for rigids and 9.0 per cent
for artics.
Within the rigid sector there were again some contrasts across the axle configurations
and weight categories between April 2002 and 2001. Two-axle 7.401 to 7.5 tonne
rigids were just three trucks down. The 3.501 to 7.5 tonne segment was up and
four-axle rigids also grew. Two-axle rigids over 15 tonnes gvw accounted for
the decline between the months with registrations down by 21.0 per cent.
Two-axle tractor registrations accounted for the entire shortfall in this April’s
artic figures compared with April 2001. For the four months to date registrations
remained down by 14.1 per cent and 6.7 per cent for two- and three-axle tractors
respectively.
Bus & coach registrations up 7.0 per cent
April’s bus and coach registrations were again up, by 7.0 per cent to 395.
The 1,461 registrations for the first four months are 8.9 percent up on the
same period last year. The industry remains cautions, not expecting growth this
year. However, this positive start to the year has taken total bus and coach
registrations for the 12 months to April to 3,883 compared to an industry projection
of 3,400 for the year as a whole.
