Registrations rising
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• Truck sales are finally up again. Registrations of commercial vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes rose 6.7% in July compared with the same month in 1991, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Heavier truck manufacturers se6 to be the main beneficiaries of the first increase in more than two years. Foden, Seddon Atkinson, ERF and Scania have all increased sales substantially on July last year.
However, the overall trend is far from rosy. Commercial vehicles sales in total have fallen 21% for the month, after rising 5.2% in June. And in the above 3,5 tonne sector, totals for the year so far are still down 9.6% on 1991.
Rod England, chair of the SMMT's truck committee, says: "I do not believe any recovery has begun."
The monthly figure for July gives "a little bit of hope", he says, 'but the relative increase is so low it does not mean anything.
"There is no confidence among the majority of the truck buying public."