Stephen Kirk, PR and Marketing director, Volvo Truck and Bus
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If there's been one characteristic of the CV Market to confound the planners, its been its ability to sustain a longer period of growth than anyone dared imagine, at least in the market sector over 15 tonnes.
May heavy truck performance continues to support this trend, with a 5,5% increase year to date over 2004. Above average growth has been seen in both the artic and three-axle rigid markets, at 6.7% and 9.5% respectively.
The burning question is: how long will this positive trend continue? Naturally, the UK economy will be at the heart of any answer.
The retail sector is giving out increasing warnings of a consumer spending slowdown, not helped by yet another period of unchanged interest rates. And much as we are all hoping for the famous "soft landing" for the economy and some relative stability for the heavy truck market there are other forces in play.
Take just one example: emissions regulations. Truck operators are now facing the decision of either staying with Euro 3 as long as possible or moving to Euro 4/5, with or without a Government incentive. All of which will have an inevitable effect on orders and registrations for the next 12 months, Whatever forecasting methods truck manufacturers employ in the search for that elusive certainty, one thing is for sure -it's going to be a bumpy next few months for the heavy truck market, whatever the type of landing.