Registrations of panel vans (between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes) rose 5.6 per cent to 12, 617 units in January, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
However, the car-derived van sector (up to 2 tonnes) was down 16.2 per cent. Overall the new van market saw 1.2 per cent growth in January.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “Vans are the backbone of British business so it is positive to see the strength of the market continue into 2017. With the success of the sector so closely linked to business confidence, government must ensure the conditions that have delivered this growth are maintained.”
