The van market declined in October, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Almost 27,000 vehicles were registered last month, representing a fall of 4.5 per cent compared with October 2015.
Nevertheless, for the first ten months of the year, registrations were up two per cent. And in the crucial 2.5 – 3.5 tonne segment, registrations were up 8.2 per cent on the same period in 2015, at almost 198,000 units.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Following the sector’s very strong performance in 2015, a levelling off in demand was expected, so this month’s decline comes as no surprise. Overall, the market remains robust, with the number of van registrations in the first 10 months of 2016 outperforming any other year on record. Maintaining business confidence for LCV operators will be critical to this sector’s future performance.”
