June 2014
Featured in this insight: Automotive
Statistics show total commercial vehicle sales have increased by over 12%: Despite truck registrations dipping 20% below last year’s figures in May, total commercial vehicle sales rose 12.6% last month reaching 27,198 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Van registrations accounted for a significant proportion of last month’s total figure (24,283), with trucks accumulating just 2,915 sales throughout the 31-day period.
An uplifting month for vans saw it overcome April’s blip, where it fell 0.6% behind last year’s figures, to move 18.4% up on the industry’s figures from May 2013 (20,503).
A boost in sales last month brings vans’ year-to-date registrations up to 124,820, 13.3% more than last year’s figure at this stage.
On the other hand, unfavourable sums for April and May have left truck registrations lagging 23.8% behind the sectors year-to-date numbers from 2013.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive at SMMT, said van registrations posted a “solid performance” last month that were in-line with the company’s expectations and put trucks’ struggling figures down to the ongoing effect of switching to new Euro-6 compliant models.
He continued by predicting trucks would remain below last year’s threshold and post a lower annual total, but expects that van sales will make up for this shortfall.
A breakdown of May’s van sales indicate that, despite an overall improvement on last year, vans less than or equal to 2.0t underperformed by -4.1%, selling 119 less units than in 2013. Vans between 2.0 – 2.5t, however, tallied 1,309 more sales last month, equating to a +39.7% change from May 2013.
May’s analysis of truck sales shows that, out of five different categories, there is some advancement evident. Rigids between 3.5 – 6.0t achieved 600 registrations in May, 69 more than May last year (531) and a +13% change.
A full breakdown of May’s statistics:
| Month | May - 14 | May - 13 | % change |
| Pickups | 2,483 | 2,260 | 9.9% |
| 4x4s | 623 | 500 | 24.6% |
| Vans <= 2.0t | 2,768 | 2,887 | -4.1% |
| Vans > 2.0 - 2.5t | 4,607 | 3,298 | 39.7% |
| Vans > 2.5 - 3.5t | 13,802 | 11,558 | 19.4% |
| All Vans to 3.5t | 24,283 | 20,503 | 19.4% |
| Rigids > 3.5 - 6.0t | 600 | 531 | 13.0% |
| Rigids > 6.0 - 16t | 432 | 829 | -47.9% |
| Rigids > 16t | 729 | 889 | -18.0% |
| All rigids | 1,761 | 2,249 | -21.7% |
| 2-axle artics | 202 | 234 | -13.7% |
| 3-axle artics | 952 | 1,163 | -13.1% |
| All artics | 1,154 | 1,397 | -17.4% |
(Figures via SMMT)
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