According to the SMMT, van sales also increased by 26.3% last month, whilst truck demand rose by 32%.
Commenting on the figures, Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said: ‘October proved to be another buoyant month for commercial vehicle registrations which is welcoming news to the truck and van sector. Vans up to 3.5 tonnes showed a healthy increase in sales of 26.3% over October of last year and the upturn was mainly in the heavier 2 tonne to 3.5 tonnes.
‘These light commercials are used in businesses as service vans or final-mile deliveries, which also saw a much stronger demand – a YTD growth of 11% compared to a less positive outlook in 2012 of 6.5%.
‘The recent upturn in the market is partly the result of uplift in business confidence in the economy. As the demand for Euro 5 trucks begins to slow down, many commentators are concerned that the early part of 2014 could see a decrease in demand as many of these recent truck sales have been brought forward to miss the Euro 6 legislation from next year.
'As in previous months, Artic units continued their upward growth to 37.1% in October and up 18.3% for this year. Rigid chassis had a buoyant month showing growth of 27.5% but this recent upturn has not eradicated the overall sluggish year for the rigid truck sector, showing a year to date performance of -5%,’ she added.