CV Registrations Down 0.6% in July in UK

Aug. 9, 2013
Commercial vehicle registration were 22,211 in July in the UK, a 0.5% decline over the same month a year ago.

Commercial vehicle registration were 22,211 in July in the UK, a 0.5% decline over the same month a year ago, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The year-to-date figures show 176,708 vehicles registered for 2013, a rise of 6.5%.

Last month also saw van registrations drop by 2.6% to 18,417 units, but year-to-date figures still show a healthy increase of 9.3% on 2012.

Meanwhile, registrations for trucks continue to grow as demand rose to 10.3%, which indicates the market is beginning to reverse the decline of 7.8% year on year.

“July’s commercial vehicle market performed on par with 2012 levels as rising truck volumes helped offset a dip in van sales,” said Nigel Base, SMMT Commercial Vehicle Manage. “We’ve been expecting a rise in truck volumes as the Euro 5/6 issue comes to a head. In July, trucks rose 10.3% continuing the trend begun a month earlier, a momentum that should continue to the end of the year.”

Again for the second month in a row both the two and three–axle artics saw big rises, 95.5% and 32.1% respectively. These large increases on new registrations see the artic sector increase its year to date to 6.4% over 2012.

While the rigid registrations continue to struggle despite some small gains for the 3.5 to 6 tonne category and the 16 tonne onwards category, which saw a 4.9% and 1.3% increases for July. This still leaves the sector down 14.5% down on last year.