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CV sales break all records
Page 8
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Commercial vehicle sales were at an all-time high last year and things are looking just as good for 2005. Chris 'Tindall and Andy Salter report.
FIGURES FROM THE Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that commercial vehicle registrations broke all UK records in 2004, with sales jumping by 7.2% year on year to almost 390,000.
Despite truck registrations dropping 1.3% in December, overall registrations for the year were up 1.3% to 56,312. Heavy vans were up 16.1% for the year but it was medium van registrations, (1.8-2.6 tonnes GVW) that showed the biggest hike — they were up 34.6% for the month with an increase of 8.1% for the year.
SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan says: "2004 has been a terrific year for vans and trucks in the UK, with registrations breaking record after record.
"Importantly, a wide range of factors drive demand,meaning it is reassuringly durable," he adds. -And encouragingly, order books are strong too, so 2005 will be another very good year."
A strong economy, and high activity levels in the transport sector helped drive demand, according to Daf Trucks MD Stuart Hunt: "The truck market in 2004 was clearly the strongest for some 15 years, well ahead of our forecasts from 12 months ago as the consumer-led markets remained strong and interest rates remained under control."
He concludes: "The relatively stable state of the world econom: despite the recent Indian Ocea: disaster, and forecasts that intei est rates are unlikely to rise muc beyond 5%. are heartening i terms of future prospects, despit some recent concerns abot property prices."