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
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 European Launch
Volkswagen’s Crafter has undergone a midlife makeover and gets a new front-end along with new Euro 5 engines… Read More
Van registrations show signs of a slowdown
According to the official Society of Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) figures, registrations of vans up to 3.5t for October show a 6.7 per cent month-on-month rise compared to 2010 with a total of 19,370; but growth is slowing as the year-end approaches. The year-to-date increase is still running at an impressive 17.3 per cent, but represents a significant drop when compared to the heady 24.2 per cent rise recorded in the first six months of 2011.Ford was at the top of the up-to-3.5t October sales league with a 25.5 per cent market share (4,935), somewhat down on the 29.0 per cent it registered for the same month last year. Volkswagen was a healthy second with sales of 2,415 (12.5 per cent) with Vauxhall a close third on 2,332 (12.0 per cent). Year-to-date, however, Vauxhall remains in a solid second place around 3,000 registrations ahead of VW.
Pick-ups and 4x4s continue to perform well year-to-date with increases of 33.7 and 29.7 per cent respectively, but the 3.5t – 6.0t sector remains a disaster zone, showing a drop of 24.7 per cent compared to 2010.
Truck sales saved the day in October with a month-on-month increase of 34.2 per cent, which takes the year-to-date rise to an impressive 35.7 per cent.
“The commercial vehicle market remains buoyant with October registrations up by more than 10 per cent and year-to-date up by nearly 20 per cent,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. “Efficiency is a key driver as operators are investing in the latest models across almost every market sector to reap the rewards of greater load carrying ability and fuel economy. These remain challenging economic conditions and we are looking to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement later this month to set out measures to boost growth and steady business confidence.”
