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HGV market falls in Q3 as new regulation hits registrations

15 November 2019 #HGVs #Registrations #SMMT News
  • UK new heavy goods vehicle registrations decline -13.1% in Q3 as market rebalances following regulatory changes.
  • Demand for rigid and artic trucks fall, down -20.5% and -3.4% respectively.
  • Tractors remain most popular body type, although registrations fall -4.7%.
  • Year-to-date registrations up 18.8% with total 36,021 units registered.

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The UK new heavy goods vehicle (HGV) market declined -13.1% in Q3 2019, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 8,557 heavy trucks were registered between July and September, a result of regulatory changes that saw operators pull purchases forward into the first half of the year.

Registrations of rigid trucks declined by a fifth (20.5%) in the third quarter, with a -28.5% decrease in the >6-16T segment and a -15.7% decline in the >16T segment.

Meanwhile, demand for artic vehicles also fell, by -3.4% to 4,100 units. Tractors remained the most popular vehicle, despite a -4.7% drop in demand, accounting for almost half of the market. All other body types experienced declines, with curtain sided trucks experiencing the biggest percentage fall, down -28.0%.

Despite the fall in the quarter, the new HGV market remains strong in the year to date, with registrations in the first nine months up 18.8% year-on-year to 36,021. Both rigid truck and articulated vehicle registrations show growth, up 16.2% and 22.4% respectively.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,

Given the rush to register new trucks before the introduction of new regulations in June, the slowdown in quarter three was anticipated, and we expect to see the market to continue to rebalance in final part of the year.

To curtail further losses, however, and to get more of these high-tech low emission vehicles on our roads, we need the right conditions to give operators confidence to continue to invest in their fleets.

Notes to Editors

From January 2019 SMMT offers an enhanced MVRIS data service to its members. SMMT will continue to publish data on a quarterly basis, enabling us to better reflect the long-term trends in these low volume markets and offer clearer insight and analysis. To ensure the most accurate data is published, 2019 HGV figures compare SMMT MVRIS data with DVLA data for 2018.

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