It’s been a very busy week in the commercial vehicle world. On Monday, London introduced its tougher Low Emission Zone and Direct Vision Standard; Wednesday was the Budget; and today we’ve released the latest LCV registration figures.
Across the UK, yesterday’s Budget provides some encouragement to an automotive sector hit hard by the pandemic and additional trading costs. However, it falls short of the support needed to transform the industry and market to the net zero future to which both the government and industry aspires. 2030 remains a significant challenge
But on a positive note, anything that encourages the recruitment of apprentices would have our full support. So, it is encouraging to see the accompanying “Build back Better: Our Plan for Growth” commit to upskilling, given the need to address some of the weaknesses of the Apprenticeship Levy, which does not work for many employers.
LCV registration numbers were up 22% in February and 9.5% for the early part of the year. This sector is a beacon of light in an otherwise troubled economy. Let us hope it is a precursor to a broader recovery and this growth continues in the long-term, particularly as we go into the popular plate change month.
Other significant news: following the recent Government announcements around Covid-19 rules, the Commercial Vehicle Show has been rescheduled to Tuesday 31 August – Thursday 2 September 2021. This brings much needed certainty to what is the largest automotive show in the UK, and the key networking event of the year for many of us.
