New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
LCV sales continue to show healthy recovery
Official registration figures for February released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) show a healthy month-on-month rise of 24 per cent compared to 2010 for vans up to 3.5t. Year-to-date comparisons are even more impressive with an increase of 38 per cent; 28,267 against 20,524.As always Ford heads the leaderboard with sales of 3,268, a month-on-month rise of 38 per cent, giving it a 29 per cent market share. Second placed Vauxhall took a 17 per cent share with sales of 1,936 which equates to a rise of 17 per cent. Volkswagen remained in third place, a fraction ahead of Peugeot.
Not such good news in the 3.5t – 6.0t sector with 288 registrations for this year compared to 286 in 2010. Year-to-date comparison shows a drop of three per cent.
Move over 6.0t, however, and registrations are up 64 per cent month-on-month with a 71 per cent leap in the year-to-date figures. That’s 3,916 compared to 2,285.
“The commercial vehicle sector is leading recovery with February van registrations up 24 per cent and trucks up 50 per cent,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “We are now seeing a sustainable improvement in new vehicle demand and the Budget later this month (23 March) will be critical in strengthening consumer and business confidence. The SMMT is looking for a freeze on fuel duty and measures that support business investment and access to finance and credit.”
