The bus and coach markets are showing signs of positivity, while commercial vehicle registrations suffered a small dip in April.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed promising signs for the bus and coach sector as a whole. It recorded a 35.5% increase on the same month last year and remained 6% ahead for the year-to-date.
The news was even more positive for the purpose-built market as April saw a 50% increase on 2013, while the converted sector enjoyed a boost of 21.9%.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “April saw a large number of bus and coach orders hit the road resulting in substantial growth in the month, up 35.5% to 843 units.
“The growth and recent market positivity has seen the rolling year rise 4%, an encouraging sign following the slow start to the year.”
Meanwhile the news was less positive for the commercial vehicle market, as truck registrations continued to decline from the effects of the introduction of Euro-6.
Only 2,718 registrations were made in April, which saw it down 24.9% on 2013, while the year-to-date was also down 24.8% compared to last year.
The only winners in truck sector were the 3.5 to 6 tonne rigid and the two-axle artic vehicles, which saw 15% and 29.8% increases respectively.
Hawes added, “The overall market remained subdued, however, as the Euro-6 lag continued for trucks. Demand for HCVs is likely to remain behind 2013 all year, but volumes should recover as we approach mid-year.”
Van registrations remained more stable however with 20,620 made throughout last month, just 0.6% behind April 2013.
Pick-ups, 4x4s and vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes posted positive results with an 8.7%, 17.2% and 0.5% rise respectively. Here the year-to-date figures remain 12.2% ahead of 2013 at more than 100,000 registrations.
“Ongoing robust demand for vans continued the year-to-date trend in line with SMMT’s revised van forecast for 2014,” said Hawes. “A forecast that should see the market grow more than 11% on 2013.”
