'Wavering business confidence' hits 2012 commercial vehicle sales

Ford took the largest share of the sub-3.5 tonne sector in 2012 at 26.03%, despite selling 11.18% fewer vehicles compared with 2011

Story: COLIN DAWSON

THE UK commercial vehicle market endured a ‘tough year’ in 2012, according to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Van registrations in the January-December period fell by 7.9% compared with 2011, the final figure standing at 239,641. December alone saw a 14.2% decline on December 2011.

But while the number of overall commercial vehicle registrations in 2012 decreased by 5.9% to 285,343, truck sales improved by 6.4% to 45,702 units, despite a sharp December decline of 14.2% compared with December 2011. Total commercial vehicle sales stood at 285,343.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt told Business Vans: “While 2012 has been a challenging year for the UK commercial vehicle market with heavy trucks the only sector performing positively during the year, the commercial vehicle market ended 5.9% down on 2011 as business confidence wavered.

“Vans have struggled all year with just under 240,000 registered while truck volumes tailed off towards the end of the year,” he said.

But Mr Everitt added that the SMMT was looking forward to 2013 being a better year for the commercial vehicle market with a host of new products and innovative technologies boosting business van registrations.”

2012 commercial vehicle sales under 3.5 tonnes

Marque Jan-Dec 2012 %
FORD 62,372 26.03
VOLKSWAGEN 30,956 12.92
VAUXHALL 26,524 11.07
PEUGEOT 21,272 8.88
MERCEDES 21,055 8.79
CITROEN 18,379 7.67
RENAULT 14,710 6.14
NISSAN 10,136 4.23
TOYOTA 7,747 3.23
FIAT 7,060 2.95
LAND ROVER 5,917 2.47
MITSUBISHI 4,853 2.03
IVECO 3,593 1.50
ISUZU 2,762 1.15
GREAT WALL 476 0.20
RENAULT TRUCKS 476 0.20
OTHER IMPORTS 427 0.18
HYUNDAI 379 0.16
ISUZU TRUCKS 248 0.10
MITSUBISHI FUSO 155 0.06
MINI 86 0.04
SSANGYONG 58 0.02
LDV 0 0.00
Total light CV sales 239,641 100.00

Keep up to date with developments in our Business Van News section.

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