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Germany leads the charge as LGV demand outstrips supply
Page 12
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UK demand has risen slightly, but not enough to match growth in Germany and the EU accession states. Roanna Avison reports.
TRUCK AND VAN registrations in the UK have remained stable so far this year.Van registrations were up 1.8% as of the end of May and truck registrations have had only their second month of growth in over a year.
Trucks are still 12% down on the May average for 1999-2005, but the figures have been distorted by last year's introduction of digital tachographs and Euro-4.
Robin Dickeson, manager for CV affairs at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, says: "If you look at the heavy market there are clearly some issues with very high demand right across Europe, particularly from Germany and the new E,U states.
"The demand from Germany is significant. After some years of [having] a depressed economy, Germany is beginning to return to the correct level for a country of that size. The demand is not just a blip; this is Germany getting to where it ought to be."
Dickeson says the growing European demand is good news, but it may take manufacturers a while to increase their output to meet requirements.
"If you take out last year's figures because they were completely skewed, the truck market is stable at 50,000-55,000 registrations a year," he adds. Demand for vans on the Continent and in the UK is also growing and Dickeson expects this to continue: "Demand has grown over the last seven to eight years, particularly at the heavy end. This has been accentuated by the introduction of the digital tachograph, which has resulted in 3.5-tonne vans chipping away at the 7.5-tonne lorry market."
He says this is particularly true in the rental market — rental operators have historically been the largest buyers of 7.5-tonners: "They are moving to 3.5-tonne vans because anyone can drive one on a car licence and without needing a driver's card."