STRONG van registrations boosted the commercial vehicle market in the usually quiet month of July, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

 

LCV volumes increased 10.2% last month to 18,913 units (July 2011: 17,162) to take this year’s registrations to 138,699, which is 7.8% below last year’s seven-month total of 150,400 and some way below pre-recession levels. However, it was the best July for van registrations since 2008 when they were above 20,000 units.

 

Sales of sub 2.0 tonne vans increased 26.8% last month to 3,197 (July 2011: 2,521), but they remain 17.7% below last year’s levels at 23,607 (2011: 28,689). Registrations of vans in the 2.0-2.5 tonne category in July slipped 0.5% on last year’s volumes to 2,420 (July 2011: 2,432) and are 1.8% down year-on-year at 18,478 (2011: 18,826), while registrations of vans in the 2.5-3.5 tonne sector were up 6.8% last month at 10,992 (July 2011: 10,289) but are 4.3% down on last year at 79,775 (2011: 83,229).

 

Meanwhile, sales of pick-up vans increased 38.9% last month to 1,929 (July 2011: 1,389) but annual sales are 16.4% down year-on-year at 13,030 (2011: 15,585). Finally, sales of 4×4 LCVs dropped 29.4% last month to 375 units (July 2011: 531) to leave this year’s volumes 16.4% down at 13,030 (2011: 15,585).