Van registrations up in October, says SMMT

Date: Friday, November 6, 2015 |

Van registrations in October increased by 6.2% to 28,208 year-on-year compared to the previous year, the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has revealed.

So far this year, 312,369 new vans have been registered – 16.3% more than this in the first 10 months of last year, thanks to increasing business confidence and the rise of online shopping services.

The niche 4x4 sector saw the biggest gains, with registrations growing by 21.6%. Last month 845 vehicles were registered, compared to 695 a year ago.

The 2.5-3.5t van and pick-up segments also saw impressive growth with increases of 17.5% and 16.7% respectively.

At the other end of the scale, registrations of vans weighing between 2.0-2.5-tonnes fell by more than a quarter (26.6%) compared to October 2014. Last year, 5207 units were registered, compared to 3822 vehicles last month.

“The rise in demand for vans demonstrates an ongoing trend as more consumers choose the convenience of home delivery,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive.

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