Climb slows
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THE CLIMB in new commercial vehicle sales is slowing up, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Having climbed by 5.6 per cent in the first six months of the year, it was down to 4.8 per cent by the end of July. And July's sales were four per cent down on those for the same month last year, from 13,438 to 12,907. That fall was in most sectors except light 4 x 4s.
In the over-3.5 tonne sector, where overall sales last month fell slightly from 2,789 in 1983 to 2,727, Ford lost its customary market leadership, with sales down from 608 in July 1983 to only 272. That put it behind Leyland (527), Bedford (401) and Mercedes-Benz (283).
For the year to date, Ford is still market leader with 19.7 per cent of sales (1983: 19.9 per cent) followed by Leyland with 14.6 per cent (1983: 15.1 per cent), Bedford with 13.5 per cent (1983: 12.8 per cent), Mercedes with nine per cent (1983: 10.2 per cent), Renault/Dodge with 8.8 per cent (1983: 10.2 per cent), and Volvo with 8.2 per cent (1983: 7.6 per cent).