Van market turnaround as registrations rise

Britain’s van market staged a turnaround in May, rising for the first time in 2012.

The market grew by 6.7 per cent, the rolling year figure up too but by just 0.4 per cent.

The year-to-date figure is still down, however, May’s 21,303 registrations contributing to a total of 97,499, 11.7 per cent down on the same period in 2011.

The latest figures were released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and SMMT Chief Executive Paul Everitt says that the return to growth in the van market is welcome.

“It’s too early to know if the change in fortunes for the van market is a sign of things to come, but coupled with the strong truck performance, it is a welcome signal of increased confidence across the commercial vehicle sector,” Everitt adds.

Leading the rise in the market were vans of up to two tonnes, with total registrations up 11.6 per cent on last May. However this figure is still 21.9 per cent down over the five months, such vehicles typically comprising less than 20 per cent of all van registrations.

The biggest sector of the market in volume terms, the 2.5 to 3.5-tonne vans, were up 9.1 per cent in May, down 8.7 per cent year-to-date.

Words by: Andrew Charman