Registration figure are up to scratch
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COMMERCIAL vehicle registrations in Great Britain during the first half of this year were well up on those for the corresponding period of 1978.
The latest registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that June was another good month for commercial vehicle manufacturers, contributing towards an almost record-breaking first half of 1979.
June registrations were nearly 26 per cent above June 1978, giving an overall increase of more than 20 per cent for the first six months of the year.
28,711 commercial vehicles (this includes rigids, artics, vans, 4x4 vehicles and carderived vans) were registered last month, as against 22,826 last June.
In the truck and artic sector of the market, Bedford was the most successful British manufacturer last month, and almost caught up with Ford as the market leader for June. Foden, Dodge, DAF, Fiat, Renault, Mercedes-Benz and Magirus Deutz all performed well last month.
But taking the first half of 1979 as a whole, manufacturers making most headway since the corresponding period of last year were Bedford, Seddon Atkinson, Dodge, Foden, MAN, Fiat, Renault, Mercedes-Benz and Magirus Deutz. Leyland showed a very small increase in the truck and artic sector in the last six months.
Ford registrations for the last six months in the truck and artic market were down, still reflecting the earlier strike. The largest selling imported commercial vehicle marque in the British truck market, Volvo, was slightly down on its previous year's figure with a drop of 15 to 2077 in the first half of 1979.
Registrations of import Japanese vehicles, entirely the light end of the mart continue to climb, albeit noi the dramatic rate of a yeal so ago, and were three per c, up on the previous year.
In the bus and coach seci traditionally more stable E slower-moving than the lo market, Volvo and Bea( have done well in the first t of 1979. Ford dropped by aiN a quarter, while Leyland r istrations also fell slightly.