European commercial vehicle registrations are still up 8.3% year-to-date despite a dip in May, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
The total number of registrations so far this year hit 127,461 after May’s 4.7% decline in figures were counted, but still an improvement on the same period in 2012.
Vans are the backbone of the year-to-date success story with a 13% rise in numbers so far in 2013, at 110,136, despite a 3.8% drop in May. Truck demand was 9.4% down in May, with 3,646 registered, and is 14.3% down year-to-date at 17,325.
SMMT Commercial Vehicle Manager Nigel Base said, “The overall CV market has performed well so far in 2013, but May saw volumes fall 3.8% as van model cycles combined with Euro 6 uncertainty for trucks. History tells us that purchases of Euro 5 will mix with new Euro 6 trucks as the year progresses, which could boost the market in the second half of 2013. For vans, the picture was positive up to May, so we anticipate this blip to be overcome as the year pans out.”