According to SMMT data, total CV registrations increased 30.9% in April to 24,370 units. The market is also up 11.8% during the year so far with 103,312 units registered.
Van registrations were again very positive, with a 43% rise last month to 20,751 units in the month. The market is also up 17.6% year-to-date, with 89,633 units.
Within the van segment, particularly strong growth was seen in April for pickups (up 73.6%), vans > 2.0-2.5t (up 97.3%) and vans > 2.5-3.5t.
However, truck demand remained down, with a fall of 12.1% to 3,619 units in April. For the first four months of 2013, the sector has declined 15.5% to 13,679 units.
Nigel Base, SMMT commercial vehicle manager, said: ‘A lift in van demand is contributing to growth across the overall market, but truck registrations continue to decline. This could be symptomatic of operators holding-off on buying vehicles in anticipation of new Euro 6 legislation coming into play later this year as well as wider economic challenges impacting the road transport sector.’
