DIP: Trucks performed particularly poorly in May
Commercial vehicle registrations dipped by 4.7% in May but the market remains up 8.3% for the year-to-date, new figures show.
Overall registrations fell to 24,149 units last month, with truck demand falling even further to deepen its 2013 decline, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
At 3,646 units, truck registrations fell 9.4%, declining 14.3% during the first five months of this year.
Van registrations also suffered, falling 3.8% behind May 2012 at 20,503 units; however, January-May volumes remain strong, up 13% to 110,136 units.
Nigel Base, Commercial Vehicle Manager of the SMMT, said: “The overall CV market has performed well so far in 2013, but May saw volumes fall 3.8% as van model cycles combined with Euro 6 uncertainty for trucks.
“For trucks, history tells us that purchases of Euro 5 will mix with new Euro 6 trucks as the year progresses, which could boost the market in the second half of 2013.
“For vans, the picture was positive up to May, so we anticipate this blip to be overcome as the year pans out.”
Image courtesy of John Carver, with thanks.
