SMMT News

1. ACEA – Passenger Car registrations + 8.6%
2. CO2 Emissions from cars continue downward trend
3. EU, US trade talks seek to advance regulatory pillar
4. ECB – Eurozone growth
5. TRAN Committee discuss White paper on Transport
6.Week ahead

SMMT launches safety guidance for van operators following poor safety levels.
Half of LGVs declared unsafe at annual MOT test, while nine in 10 are overloaded.
Failure to service vans properly could result in fines and vehicles taken off roads.

The success of the UK’s booming commercial vehicle sector will be celebrated at this week’s Commercial Vehicle Show, as the latest SMMT figures reveal a record high for van and truck registrations.

SMMT’s weekly round-up, including all the latest news from UK automotive and a message from SMMT’s Chief Executive.

Car owners who have enjoyed top-class service from their local garage are being urged to go online to enter them for a national competition that celebrates the country’s best garages. Top performing garages from across each UK regions will be shortlisted for the nationwide Garage of the Year competition which will be awarded in June to the UK’s best car service and repair workshop.

1. SMMT – Vehicle Registrations April 2015
2. Liberal Democrats policy: £100m prize for ULEV manufacturers
3. BCC – Q1 2015 Quarterly Economic Forecast
4. Week ahead

1. Implementation of EU trade and investment agreements
2. CBI – Access to finance is a priority for CMU
3. IMF calls for economies to work together to avoid decade of low growth
4. OECD – Eurozone growth momentum strengthening
5. Tony Blair warns of EU chaos in case of referendum on Europe
6. Week ahead

Bus and coach registrations increased for a third consecutive month in March, rising 15%.
Significant growth for both purpose-built buses and coaches, as a result of the March plate change with operators investing in new vehicles.
Purpose-built buses rose 111.2% to 340 units in March, purpose-built coaches 36% to 223 units.

Commercial vehicle market grows 25.3% in March to 67,965 units, due to positive van and truck performance.
Van registrations led by 2.5 – 3.5t vans, up 23.8% to 34,007 in March.
Third consecutive month of increased truck demand sees 41.0% growth so far this year.

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