Rascal boosts Bedford in van market
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• Registrations of over 700 British-built microvans last month helped keep one sector of the UK commercial vehicle market rising in an otherwise declining market.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show that the light van sector (up to 1.8 tonnes GVW) is up by 4.8% after five months this year to 43,432, while light 4 x 4 registrations — influenced by the leisure market — are up 2.5% to 6,204.
Overall, commercial vehicle registrations are running 0.22% behind 1985s after five months at 128,670 and last month's were down by 0.83%. Imports for the year are up from 36.8% to 40.9% overall.
Last month was the first full month of sales of Luton-built Bedford Rascal and Suzuki Super Carry microvans based on Japanese designs but free for the first time from the SMMT/JAMA "gentlemen's agreement'' to restrict imports.
Bedford registered 635 Rascals (65.1% of all micro registrations) and Suzuki 90 Super Carrys (plus 19 Japanese-built micros). For the year to May 31, Bedford registered 899 Rascals, Suzuki 107 (plus 309 from Japan).
The Rascal adds to Bedford's spectacular recovery in the light van market, coming after last year's successful launch of the Astramax high roof van. Its 27.9% share of the market last month (1985: 20%) gave it market leadership, and for the year to May 31, its 25.4% share (1985: 19.8%) puts it within a whisker of overtaking Ford's top share of 26.1% (1985: 33.2%).
In the 1.8 to 3.5 tonne van sector, Bedford still has some way to go to catch up with either Ford or Freight Rover. Its 12.4% share for the first five months (1985: 11.2%) lags behind Freight Rover's falling share of 12.5% (1985: 13.4%) and Ford's 316% (1985: 36.7%).
Last month's figures show that Ford is fast regaining lost ground as supplies of the new model Transit become available.
Transit registrations in May were up from 2,687 in 1985 to 3,139, of which 177 were old model long wheelbase vehicles imported from the Belgian plant.
Truck registrations for the first five months are 3.8% down to 23,709, with Leyland still ahead (up from 1985s 15.1% to 17.6%), MercedesBenz still second — ahead of its own expectations — at 13.9% (1985: 11.6%) and Ford third at 13.3% (1985: 16.9%).
On present performance, the combined Iveco Ford business would have second place in the market at 17% (1985: 20.6%). Both Iveco and Ford have lost market share this year.
Bedford's share of the truck market is down from 12.5% to 9.9%.