Heavy vans and pick-ups push market to record growth
Thu, 07 Jul 2016
New van sales reached record levels in the first six months of 2016, with the the UK registering almost 200,000 new vehicles, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Registrations of large vans - 2.5 - 3.0 tonnes - dominated the market, with sales up by 11.3 per cent in June, compared to the same period past year. Pick-up sales were also buoyant, up 17.3 per cent on June 2015, with the increase largely down to the launch of several new models.
The growth in large vans has been linked to the boom in home deliveries, with a recent study from the Freight Transport Association (FTA) showing that the UK spends more than £800 million online every week. That figure is double what it was in 2010.
The growth in home deliveries has seen businesses adding at least one large van to their fleets, while the FTA has indicated that large firms are also downsizing from small trucks to large vans. As a result the 2.5 -3.0 tonne van sector now dominates the light commercial vehicle market with a 62.7 per cent share, while demand for vans below 2.0 tonnes have fallen by a similar figure.
“It’s been an encouraging first half for the new LCV sector," said Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, SMMT. "The market remains strong with all the signs pointing towards a healthy performance in 2016. Maintaining economic certainty for van operators will be key to the sector’s ongoing success.”
Looking for a new delivery van? Check out our round-up of the best lage vans
