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Euro-3 goes down a storm
Page 20
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As predicted, many operators snapped up Euro-3 trucks in September to delay adopting Euro-4; now expect a couple of quieter months,
INSIDERS' PERSPECTIVES
Views from the SiV MT
In the end, the SMMT's prediction of a -storm' in September, as operators rushed to register Euro-3 trucks ahead of the Eurc-4 deadline, proved justified but only just.
Robin Dickeson, manager of CV affairs at the association, says it was only a high volume of lastminute registrations that spared its blushes: 'I was slightly nervous of whether we were about to be proved spectacularly wrong."
The latest SMMT figures show a 35.1% increase in truck registrations, with more than 8,500 registered during September.
Dickeson says many of these last-minute registrations were from operators going for the last of the Reduced Pollution Certificates, which can cut road tax by up to 2500 but are now no longer available.
"It's a very, very sad comment that this is the second largest market in Europe and we give no incentives on better emission standards," he says. "We've seen a rush of people wanting to register vehicles before Euro-4... in other words, many of those will be less green."
Medium and heavy van registrations were up 3.8% and 2.3% respectivelybut light vans suffered an 8.6% reduction on year-to-date figures.
Dickeson says a significant factor in this could be the increased involvement of finance companies, which have overall ownership of the vehicle: 'Residual value is therefore important to the bank or finance house financing the vehicle. It's rather easier to sell a 3.5tonner than a 1,8-tonner in most instances, although it's not always so clear cut."
Overall, there's plenty to be optimistic about.
Dickeson says the market is healthy, though the next couple of months are expected to be quieter than September. And he says a range of factors are keeping the freight market buoyant too, which Is encouraging.
He predicts that the year-end figures will be very close to those of 2005: "It's a healthy market," he concludes. "And it looks good for the future."