85 sales up 6pc
Page 5
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;L:CK SALES came within 7 of the 56,000 expected by • Society of Motor Manu • rurers anti Traders last a rise of just under Six • cent. over 1984.
7igures for new vehicle retrations show that over 3.5 mes, the market grew from 821 in 1984 to 55,833 (up ' per cent), while the total A.' commercial vehicle mar: grew by 6.6 per cent from ),1J113 [0286,797.
The light commercial mart, including four-wheelye models, grew by 7.3 7 cent, while the bus and ich market, devastated by ubts about bus deregulan, fell by 25.7 per cent to all-tinie low or 2,511.
Imports have gone on ming, up from 36.2 per 11 01all registrations in 44 to 36.6 per cent last fr, and in the truck market rn 34.5 to 36.7 per cent. For this year, SMMT
• ecasters see the truck mar ker growing to about 57.•11111 at best, with importers' share climbing to about 39 per cent.
Ford and Leyland have ended the year closer together in the truck market, with Ford's market share down marginally from 1984's 18.1 per cent to 18 per cent, and Leyland up from 14.6 per cent to 16 per cent.
Of the other truck manufacturers, I )af Elf, !yea), MAN-VW, Mercedes-Benz and Seddon Atkinson, all increased their market. share, while Foden, Bedford, I lestair, Dennis, Renatilt/Dotigt.', Scania and Volvo all lost market share.
Foden has ended the year in the ignominious position of having been outsold by I l'sLair Dennis, which registered 137 more trucks than Foden. Foden's registrations were down to 60 per cent of 1984's figure, at 450 trucks.
But Foden marketing manager Roy Caddy told (..51:
"We are not worried. This year there have been a lot or price battles which we have not been prepared to join."
He said that Foden has received encouraging orders for 1986. "We have received very good orders from very good customers which we are de lighted to have." The situation now is better than a year ago, Caddy added.
He said Foden does not talk externally about its profit
margins, but said it is satisfied by them. Export and military sales have to be added to the home market registration figures, but Foden refuses to disclose the military figure.
The Ford .1.ralisit-market leader in the medium/heavy
van sector — has ended its final year in original form with 33.5 per cent of a market for 121,202, down from 34.4 per cent of 115,829.
A full analysis of the 1985 registration figures will be published in CM next week.