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 sales remain solid in November
Registrations of light commercials up to 3.5t continue to show strong year-on-year growth throughout November according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT). The total of 22,684 compares well to last November’s 19,128, a month-on-month increase of 18.6 per cent. This takes the 2011 year-to-date figure to 241,738, up 17.4 per cent for the same period last year.As always Ford took the lion’s share of the market with sales of 5,969 which gives it a year-to-date total of 66,420. This represents 27.5 per cent of the market. Volkswagen was a strong second on 3,152 (13.9 per cent) with Vauxhall coming in third with 2,398 (11.0 per cent). Vauxhall, however, remains in second place year-to-date on a total of 31,067, compared to VW’s 28,843.
Sales of commercial vehicles over 6.0t are also looking good with a year-to-date total of 33,308, an increase of 34.4 per cent compared to 2010. It’s the 3.5t – 6.0t sector that’s struggling, down 22.7 per cent year-on-year.
“November saw the commercial vehicle market continue on its upward trend with demand up 19.1 per cent,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. “Both the van and truck market saw growth, reflecting sustained investment in new vehicles by businesses. London’s new Low Emission Zone comes into effect on 3 January, requiring drivers of older vans and trucks to upgrade their vehicles or pay a daily fee, so we expect to see a boost to registration levels in December and through the early part of 2012.”
