Overall registrations were up 15.3% year-on-year to 17,354 units. Van demand rose 14.3% with 14,467 units recorded. However, the biggest growth was enjoyed by the truck sector, with registrations up by 20.2% to 2,887.
Year-to-date, the market was up 19.0% to 255,849 units. Van registrations rose 16.8% to 225,417 whilst truck demand was up 38.3% to 30,432 for the first eight months of the year.
UK van and truck registrations: 2015 and % change on 2014:
|
|
August |
% change |
Year-to-date |
% change |
Rolling year |
% change |
|
Vans |
14,467 |
14.3% |
225,417 |
225,417 |
354,155 |
17.2% |
|
Trucks |
2,887 |
20.2% |
30,432 |
30,432 |
49,890 |
-0.2% |
|
Total |
17,354 |
15.3% |
255,849 |
255,849 |
404,045 |
14.8% |
Mike Hawes, chief executive, SMMT, said: “August's registration figures are further evidence of the commercial vehicle sector's return to form in 2015 after a year of regulatory upheaval. With certainty now restored, fleet renewal patterns are returning to normal, buoyed by the continuing growth in demand for online deliveries.”
Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association, added: “In what is traditionally a slow volume month for commercial vehicle sales, it was encouraging to see a healthy 15.3% growth in registrations.
“The most significant growth in the van market came from larger 2.5 -3.5-tonne vans that are typically used in distribution – a 14.2% increase was recorded. Sales of smaller vans continued a similar trend to last year, with the only exception coming from the 4×4 pick-ups, which recorded a very positive 172.9% increase. However, it should be noted that this is a small market, which registered 584 vehicles this August compared with 214 in August 2014. The overall sub 3.5-tonne CV market recorded a growth of 14.3% in the month, and year-to-date registrations showed an overall increase 16.8%.
“Heavier commercials and trucks saw a 20.2% increase in registrations, however this still remained lower than the year-to-date growth of 38.3%. The 3.5-6.0-tonne sector is small in the UK, but still recorded an extremely positive 70.2% increase in August."
She added: “Overall, the commercial vehicle market looks set to be buoyant for the remainder of 2015, which comes as good news after 2014 was burdened with major legislative changes for the HGV industry. We look forward to seeing what next month’s market holds following the 65-plate change.”
