Latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) data shows that commercial vehicle registrations reached a record half-year total of 209,515 in June 2015, with strong growth in the van market found to be the defining factor.
Meanwhile a total of 685,184 fleet cars were registered for the first six months of the year – up 13.1% on the 605,685 for the first half of 2014. Growth for June was even stronger, with registrations up 18.9% to 136,125 units from 114,453 for April 2014.
In response RAC Business spokesman Simon Peevers said: “These figures tally with what we are seeing in terms of demand for fleet services across the business spectrum, from small businesses and sole traders, to large corporates.
“RAC Business research in Q1 of this year highlighted that the cost to small businesses of maintaining company vehicles was approaching £2,000 a year per vehicle, which is much better spent on business investment.
“The increase in fleet registrations, coupled with the positive story in the light commercial vehicle market, or ‘white van man’, suggests UK businesses are now in a better position to Invest in new, reliable and efficient vehicles to do the job.
“We see that businesses are also being savvy when it comes to controlling costs further through technology such as telematics which encourages better driver behaviour and less fuel consumption.”
