Van-dependant businesses contributed £120 billion to the UK economy in 2014, an increase of 16% compared to 2010, a Centre for Economics and Business Research report has shown.
The report, commissioned by Ford, highlighted growth in van usage, driven by transport for online retailers. According to the report, the popularity of online shopping in the UK has grown by 15.8% since 2009.
Ford said its van sales have increased by 27% compared to a year ago largely as a result of the growth in online shopping. According to the report, 18% of UK households received deliveries at least once a week in 2012, compared to 7% in 2002.
Ford said newly-created businesses in trades like painting, plumbing and plastering; and ongoing demand from traditional van-based industries like building, maintenance/repair, utilities and transport helped to increase its sales too.
The research also revealed that van drivers covered 64 billion miles in the UK last year, up by 20% compared with 2008, generating £5 billion in fuel duty.
“Most people see the Transits and other work vans on the road every day and don’t realise how vital they are for business at large, as well as the overall economy,” said Barb Samardzich, chief operating officer, Ford of Europe. “As our economy changes and evolves – with shifts to online shopping for example – demand for Transit is only rising.”