Overall, 59,857 vans were registered last month, with the pick-up sector showing particularly strong growth – demand rose 16.4%, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth.
Heavier vans were also popular, with registrations of vehicles weighing 2-2.5t growing by 11.2%, and those weighing 2.5-3.5t up 5.2% in the month.
In contrast, 4x4s were down 93.8% while vans under 2.0t dropped 17.6%. Rigids between 3.5 and 65 were up 18.2%.
September’s growth helped deliver 291,714 registrations for the first three quarters of 2016 – a year-on-year increase of 2.7% and the first time that LCV registrations have passed 290,000 in September since 2007.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The month of September did not disappoint, as businesses took advantage of the new 66-plate and a range of attractive and flexible finance options. To maintain this high level of demand and drive fleet renewal, positive business conditions must be assured despite the long-term political and economic uncertainty.”
