New van sales rise in September
Wed, 05 Oct 2016
New van registrations rose again in September, fuelled by demand for 66-plate vehicles and strong performance from pick-ups and large panel vans.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that 59,857 new vans and pick-ups were registered in September, while year-to-date registrations surpassed 290,000 for first time in September for almost a decade.
Ford was the best-selling van manufacturer in September, followed by Volkswagen and Peugeot.
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Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “The month of September did not disappoint, as businesses took advantage of the new 66-plate and a range of attractive and flexible finance options."
September’s growth means that 291,714 vans and pick-ups have been registered over the first three quarters of 2016 – a year-on-year increase of 2.7 per cent. It's also the first time that light commercial vehicle registrations have passed 290,000 in September since 2007.
Demand for pick-ups increased for the eighth consecutive month in September, up 16.4 per cent, while heavier vans - 2.0 - 2.5 tonnes - grew by 11.2 per cent. Sales of smaller vans under 2.0 tonnes continued to decrease, with a drop of 17.6 per cent for September and an overall drop of 12.8 per cent for 2016.
