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LCV sales bounce back in November
Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2021 | Author: James Dallas
Sales of new light commercial vehicles rose 9.7% to 31,320 year-on-year last month, notching up the highest sales total on record for November, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Illustrating the volatile nature of the market, the increase followed declines in the previous two months.
The market was up 22.8% to 325,976 in the year to 30 November compared to the same period in 2020, but remained 3.8% behind the pre-pandemic average from 2015 to 2019.
With manufacturers struggling to meet demand due to supply issues caused by the ongoing semiconductor shortage, market instability is likely to be a feature well into 2022, the SMMT predicted.
All sectors of the market recorded growth in November, except for vans weighing up to 2.0-tonnes which fell 19.6% to 1,361 units.
Sales of vans weighing from 2.5 to 3.5-tonnes grew by 7.7% compared to the locked-down November 2020, reaching 22,363 units, or 71.4% of the market total. Pick-up sales grew 31.2% to 2,610 in November while vans weighing from 2.0 to 2.5-tonnes grew 21.2% to 4,779 units. The biggest growth was recorded in the niche 4x4 market, which increased 39.9% to 207 units.
The SMMT forecast the LCV market would return to pre-2019 levels in 2022 on the back of strong demand but warned the strength of the economic recovery, with rising levels of taxation and inflation, could affect growth as could the ongoing impact of the pandemic with the emergence of new variants.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “A pre-Christmas boost to van registrations will be welcomed by the industry, but it remains a rollercoaster of a market. Demand is clearly robust, but market volatility is likely to remain a feature as supply chain shortages throttle the sector’s ability to fulfil orders.
“Manufacturers are working hard to try and overcome these shortages and the November deliveries illustrate the success they have been having in the UK. Whilst the outlook remains challenging, customers can be reassured of the industry commitment to the commercial vehicle sector, given its importance to the operation of society and business growth.”
The Ford Transit Custom was the best-selling LCV in November ahead of the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Vauxhall Vivaro and Volkswagen Transporter.
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