Over the first eleven months of the year registrations were up 17.4% to 241,738, reflecting the market’s upward trend throughout 2011.
SMMT boss Paul Everitt said the expansion of the London Low Emission Zone to include vans from 3 January would keep sales buoyant in the short term.
“We expect to see a boost to registration levels next month and through the early part of 2012,” said Everitt.
Sales in the resurgent pick-up sector shot up by a whopping 92% in November to 2360.
Medium van sales increased 36% to 3396 and heavy van sales grew 14% to 13,337.
However, sales of sub-2.0 tonne commercial vehicles dropped 6% to 3015 units.
Market leader Ford increased sales by 17% to 5969 in November, following a dip the previous month, and is 21% ahead in the year-to-date.
The manufacturer said strong demand for the Fiesta Van and Transit underpinned its recovery.
It said the Transit accounted for 22% of the commercial vehicle market in November with sales up from 3837 to 4696 year-on-year.
Fiesta Van sales rose from 286 to 400.
