WHILE new car sales stuttered again in March the UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market saw year-on-year demand increase by 10.6% marking the sector’s best ever monthly performance.
According to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Registrations in the month accounted for almost two-thirds of the quarter’s volumes, as business buyers took advantage of new models and strong market incentives.
More than 66,000 new vans and pick-ups hit British roads in March compared with the same month in 2018, an uplift of 6,359 units. Both medium vans weighing 2.0-2.5 tonnes and large vans weighing 2.5-3.5 tonnes saw double-digit growth, with demand rising by 17.9% and 13.0% respectively.
Registrations of pick-ups also rose, by 6.7%, to more than 11,000. Meanwhile small vans weighing less than 2 tonnes experienced a decline, falling -10.6%.
March rounded off a positive quarter for the sector, with demand for new LCVs up 8.9% on the same period in 2018, at 102,743 registrations.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “March is typically the busiest month of the year and it’s great to see large demand for the new ‘19 plate. While the market does fluctuate with buying cycles, it appears buyers are making the most of the fantastic deals on offer. For such exceptional demand to continue long term, however, we need business confidence to improve and that means an end to the political and economic instability besetting the UK.”
urther to today’s March new vehicle sales results issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in the UK, please find attached Ford news concerning March sales and First Quarter 2019 sales. Key points are:
Ford had its best-ever commercial vehicle sales month in March, with more than 24,000 registrations. Fiesta van, Transit Courier, Transit Custom, Tourneo Custom, and Transit 2.0-tonne all No.1 in their respective segments.
Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom sales continue to grow, with combined sales of 18,076 year to date.
Mercedes-Benz Vans UK also achieved its best ever March result, up 14% on its previous best ever March), with 7,052 registrations last month.
It was also the second best ever sales month at just 260 registrations behind September 2017. There were new registrations records set in March for Citan and Vito, which also set a new record Q1 result too. The same is true for Sprinter Chassis and for X-Class, which both set new record month and quarter registrations.
How can you possibly rate the VW T28 as the best large trades van in the light of Ford Transit Custom’s sales figures? I’ve now had two Transit Customs and I’m a 50-years + major fan of the VW brand. However, my current 2.0 long-wheelbase cab-in-van Transit Sport Van makes the equivalent VW look stupidly expensive, while not really being measurably inferior in any respect. The only thing the VW wins on, is if you need excessive power levels, but the Ford copes with pulling a big trailer at 70mph all day long. The cost to buy or lease seems to be conveniently overlooked by journalists when assessing the respective vehicles, but it’s a massive driver in the real world.