SMMT new LCV data

  • New van registrations rise 1.8%, reaching 37,349 units in June 2017.
  • 17th consecutive month of booming pickup market, up 14.2%
  • Medium vans (2-2.5t) up nearly 30%
  • Increased demand for smaller vans.
  • H1 registrations experience 3.7% decline, but volumes remain high.

THE market for new LCVs bounced back in June following four consecutive months of decline as pick-ups and medium vans drive demand, according to the latest figures released by SMMT.

Demand for new vans rose by 1.8%, with 37,349 new LCVs joining British roads last month.

Pick-up registrations were up once again, rising 14.2% to almost 5,000 units, with the segment now reporting positive figures for 17 consecutive months.

Medium sized vans (> 2.0-2.5t) also enjoyed a significant boost, up 29.9% to 6,188, while demand for small vans <= 2.0t rose by 2.3%, reversing the negative trend seen over the past year.

In the first six months, the market reported a small decline on 2016, with registrations down 3.7%. However, volumes remain at a high level, with the year-to-date total of 184,926 vans some 54% higher than five years ago.

pick-ups and medium vans drive demand

Nigel Base, SMMT commercial vehicle manager, says: “Over recent years the van market has seen some spectacular growth, the last two being records for new LCV registrations. As with all good things, they eventually come to an end and this year we have seen the market settling down to more stable levels, albeit at a much higher level than anyone would have predicted five years ago.

“Even with demand easing, the vehicle parc will continue to grow. Currently at 4.2m, we expect it to rise to 4.5m over the medium term. Not only are there more vans on the road, but they are larger with each carrying more goods for operators, and annual mileage is also increasing.

“There are a number of reasons for this growth, in particular the rise of internet shopping and home deliveries. However a recent report by the RAC Foundation suggests this is not the whole picture. What may be driving the increase in van numbers is a structural shift in the way goods and services are delivered to businesses and the consumer.”

pick-ups and medium vans drive demand

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “After two years of record growth in the new van market, it’s natural to see demand ease as the sector reaches a sustainable running rate.

“However, as these figures show, the market remains at a high level and we expect similar patterns of demand to continue throughout the year.

In the best sellers list there were some interesting changes behind market leader Ford Transit Custom, with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter up to second ahead of the year’s second best seller Ford Transit in third and Vauxhall Vivaro ahead of fifth-placed Ford Transit Connect, while VW Transporter was down in eighth for the month but just staying ahead of Sprinter in the year-to-date tally.

pick-ups and medium vans drive demand

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