Sales growth grows
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REGISTRATIONS of new commercial vehicles this year are likely to end up less than one percentage point ahead of last year.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures for the first eleven months of 1984 show sales one per cent ahead of the same period last year, up from 252,791 to 255,442.
Sales over 3.5 tonnes rose by 6.2 per cent from 47,029 to 49,924; light van (mainly carderived) sales fell by 0.6 of one per cent from 80,621 to 80,126; medium/heavy vans (around one tonne to 3.5 tonnes) fell by 0.25 of one per cent from 110,379 to 110,099; and light 4x4 sales climbed by 6.9 per cent from 11,285 to 12,064.
A fall in bus and coach sales has emphasised the slide in sales growth this year which, in June, was running at 5.6 per cent.
Sales of vehicles over 3.5 tonnes have to be seen against a further climb in imports. From 31.8 per cent of sales last year (34.4 per cent of all commercials), imported vehicles now represent 34.7 per cent of sales over 3.5 tonnes (36.2 per cent of all commercials were imported).
Importers whose market shares have risen over 3.5 tonnes are Daf, lveco, Scania, MAN-VW, and Volvo. British manufacturers whose market shares have risen in the same sector are ERF, Foden, Bedford and Hestair Dennis.