Published: 08 November 2013
ReturnLoads.net can report that truck registrations soared by almost a third in October, while also strong increases showed in van and overall commercial vehicle numbers also showed strong according to new figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed this week.
Higher than usual registration numbers were expected towards the end of 2013 as company’s bagged new Euro 6 trucks or brought forward orders of Euro 5 vehicles to avoid the impending emissions requirements.
October saw 5,105 registrations, a 32% increase on last year, which has also helped to pull year-to-date truck numbers into positive numbers versus last year with 39,457 hitting the road, up 3.2%.
It was also a strong month for vans with 22,473 registrations leaving last October 26.3% in the shade. Year-to-date there have been 227,477 van registrations, an 11% increase.
All registrations combined to total 266,934, a 9.8% rise that puts the UK head and shoulders above other markets in Europe.
“Both the van and truck markets showed great strength in October boosting the sector by 27.3% and taking the 2013 growth rate to almost 10%,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.
“We expected that the Euro 5/6 change would see the truck market grow in strength towards year-end and for vans, SMMT has raised its forecast on the back of sustained demand and confidence to 264,100, a 10.2% rise on last year.”
October was also a positive month for bus and coach registrations, but the year-to-date picture in this sector is still down overall.
While registrations grew for a third consecutive month, and were 13.2% up to 550 units in October, the market is still down 11% overall this year.
A year-to-date rise of 15.7% for purpose-built coaches was boosted by a 25.6% jump in registrations in October.
“This recent market strength follows a slow start to the year with registrations lower than 2012 given the Olympics boost last year”, said Hawes.
“While registrations for 2013 are still down 11% overall, we are encouraged by the recovery rate and the ongoing uptake of cleaner and more efficient vehicles.”
ReturnLoads,net will report more when more news is available