Van registrations continued to move the commercial vehicle sector forward in September as the truck market faltered.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed positive signs for the commercial vehicle sector overall as it grew 10.8% compared to September 2013. Registrations in the year-to-date are 12.6% ahead of the first nine months last year.
The van sector posted a 14.1% increase on the same month last year with 49,123 vehicles registered. In the year-to-date, 242,071 vans were registered – 18.1% ahead of 2013.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “With businesses feeling increased economic confidence and downsizing from larger vehicles, the van market has delivered another strong performance. This has yielded growth in the whole commercial vehicle market, continuing the positivity seen throughout the majority of the year.”
The truck market remained subdued in September with 5,374 vehicles registered, 12.3% down on the same month in 2013. Truckregistrations so far in 2014 are 20.3% behind the first nine months of 2013.
Hawes said, “We are yet to see the truck market show signs of significant recovery following a flurry of registrations ahead of the Euro-6 introduction last year, which tempered demand going in to 2014.”
