News

The latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) commercial vehicle registration figures have just been released, and they show a truly mixed bag of results.

Despite a poor October, with registrations down 9.4% on the same period in 2008, the 3.5-tonne and above sector is still rising, with an increase of 18.2% on the year to date, and 20.7% on the rolling year to the end of October.

However, Paul Everitt,  the SMMT chief executive, is predicting the economic situation to result in a decline for the rest of the year, although still beating 2007's total. Vans up to 3.5 tonnes, though, are less healthy, however you measure them. October saw another dive, 35.2% on the 2008 figure, or 10.1% on the year to date.

Everitt says: "Van demand will drop sharply, before steadying at the end of 2009 to recover in 2010."

Looking at individual performances among the heavies, the top three of Daf, Mercedes-Benz and Iveco maintain their positions throughout the year, although Volvo sneaked into third for the month of October.

Scania, the first to excuse itself from next April's CV Show, had the worst October of the Big Seven, dropping 44.3% of its market share compared with the previous October, and sliding from fourth to sixth on the year to date.

Up to 3.5 tonnes, October's big shock has been Vauxhall outselling Ford for the first time anyone can remember, albeit by  just four units. It seems success begets success, as this pair combined with M-B and VW now accounted for more than two thirds (67.6) of the market in October.

Of the majors, only Renault Trucks (23.6%), Land Rover (8.9%), Mitsubishi Fuso (1.6%) and Peugeot (1.4%) have increased volume throughout 2008. Biggest volume loser is LDV which has dropped 38.9% on the year.

In one deal which symbolises the current market, Vauxhall has just announced a 523-vehicle contract with Home Delivery Network to replace 20% of its largely LDV van fleet.