Commercial vehicle registrations up 16.4%

Commercial vehicle registrations are up 16.4% from January to June year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Total commercial vehicle registrations rose 25.5% in June to 33,941; rolling year up 16.4% to 344,762.

The van market maintains impressive growth with registrations up 33.3% in June, causing year-to-date volumes to increase 16.8% to 155,532 and rolling year up 16.0% to 293,428.

"The van market has shown another strong performance in June, yielding higher-than-expected growth for the year so far," said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive.

"This has helped the total commercial vehicle market achieve half-year growth of more than 11%, despite a somewhat depressed truck sector. Trucks continued to decline in the first six months of the year in the wake of an extremely strong end to 2013, ahead of the introduction of Euro-6."

Commenting on the figures, Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association, said: “June has been a good turning point in the year for the commercial vehicle market, and we have seen a modest improvement in overall sales figures.

“Looking ahead into the second half of the year, dealers are optimistic that the van market will remain healthy.”