Van registrations rise 3.3% in March

The new van market finished the first three months of the year with a 3.3% uplift in demand in March, according to SMMT.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released figures showing that the new van market finished the first three months of the year on high, with a 3.3% uplift in demand in March.

Almost 99,000 new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) have joined British roads in the year-to-date – an increase of 1.2% in the same period in 2015.

A total of 63,913 registrations made in the month represented two-thirds of the quarter’s total volume. The best seller was Ford who sold 20,367 in March alone, and 31,130 in the year-to-date. Volkswagen was the second best seller, with 6,369 LCVs sold in March and 10,362 in the year-to-date.

There was a substantial 14.2%  rise in the 2.5-3.5-tonne segment last month, counteracting a decline in registrations of vans weighing less than 2.5 tonnes.

Demand for pickups showed a 5.3% gain in March, while the 3.5-6-tonne truck sector saw registrations fall slightly by 1.9%.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the SMMT, said, “Traditionally one of the busiest months of the year for the new British van market, March’s new 16 plate gave a welcome boost, closing the first quarter on a positive note after a more subdued start to the year.

“Following the sector’s record performance set in 2015, we expect to see steadier growth over the coming months.”

Other figures published by the SMMT revealed the UK’s new car market grew by 5.3% in March, with fleet and business registrations accounting for 49.4% of the market, with private sales accounting for more than half of the market.

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