The van market in the UK is going from strength-to-strength with new registrations rocketing by a third over the same period last year.
However, the good news is dampened by figures that show truck sales are still depressed.
The figures have been released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) which show that 30,712 vans were registered last month. So far this year more than 155,500 new vans have taken to the UK’s roads.
Van sales boom while truck sales slide
The SMMT’s chief executive Mike Hawes said the strong performance in van sales was helping to create higher than expected sales figures.
He added: “The total commercial vehicle market has seen growth of 11% for the first six months, despite the depressed truck sector.”
New van sales are being fuelled by the new Ford Transit and the recently launched Vauxhall Vivaro with expectations that the new van market will remain a strong sector until the end of the year.
Ford is still number one van seller in UK
When the market is broken down, the most sales were seen in the 2.5-3.5tonne segment which saw sales grow by 35% with 17,488 sales.
However, the biggest growth recorded was in the 2-2.5tonne segment which rocketed by 43% with 5,300 registrations.
The new van market is still dominated by Ford which accounts for 24% of all new van sales, though its share is down slightly from last year’s market share figure of 26%.
New truck registrations fell by 19% last month compared to the month previously and 23% year-on-year.