Heavy truck sales confound gloomy redictions with a January surge
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a Truck sales in January avoided an expected dip thanks to a surge in demand at the heavier end of the market.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says the 4% growth in trucks and artics to 3,991 units is partly explained by the strong performance of the economy and high levels of business confidence.
Demand was strongest for three and four-axle rigidS and triaxle arcs.
The rate of the decline in the two-axle sector, caused by vehicle excise duty changes in last year's Budget, slowed to 13.6%.
Daf and Mercedes-Benz sales were well down on the same period last year while ERF. MAN and lveco Ford enjoyed the biggest increases. In the light CV
sector, sales of Volkswagen Citroen, GM-Vauxhall and Renault were well up.
The SMMT says that CV sales in January 1999 were generally weaker than usual because purchases were delayed by the introduction of the twice-yearly registration system.