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
Sunday, 16 January 2011 10:56 | 
Written by Neil McIntee
Van sales show positive growth during 2010
According to official figures compiled by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) total sales of 222,915 for light commercials up to 3.5t represent a very healthy year-on-year increase of 19.6 per cent compared to 2009. December registrations held up well with a rise of 21.7 per cent, taking them to 17,086. That makes it 11 consecutive months of recorded increases.Ford was the overall winner once again with total sales of 59,488, a year-on-year rise of 12.6 per cent. This represents a 2010 market share of 26.7 per cent, a drop of 5.6 per cent compared to 2009.
Vauxhall was the second-ranked manufacturer for 2010 with 27,417 registrations, with Volkswagen just behind on 25,710. See below for the top ten sales list.
Registrations of commercial vehicles over 6.0t (basically trucks) recovered in December after a disastrous start to 2010. Total sales of 27,588 for the year means that the market dropped just 1.3 per cent year-on-year.
“During 2010 van and truck registrations posted one of the strongest annual rates of growth ever at 15.9 per cent, as volumes started to recover from the recession,” commented Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. The van market rose in all but one month in 2010, boosted by better than expected business confidence and improved output from the construction sector.
“Truck registrations grew rapidly in the second half of 2010 and ended the year on par with 2009 levels. “While we still have a long way to go to get volumes back to pre-recession levels, we expect more growth in 2011 and 2012,” he continued.
