NI-13 grabs top spot
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• October turned out to be a bumper month for MercedesBenz. The German manufacturer captured the top spot in the UK heavy truck market for the first time. According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mercedes sold 1,013 trucks in October, representing a market share for the month of 19.9%.
MB(UK) eased Leyland out of the top slot with the British truck builder finishing October with sales of 874 vehicles, 18.4% up on the previous October — giving it a market share of 17.1%.
Iveco Ford Truck took third place with a share of 13.9% (710 registrations).
Overall figures for truck sales during 1986 up to the end of October, however, show a rather different picture. Iveco Ford is in pole position with a 19% share based on 8,836 trucks sold, Leyland is in second place with 17%(7,926) and Mercedes keeps its third place, ahead of Bedford with a 14.3% stake (6,657).
The total market for trucks up to the end of October reached 46,486 — down 0.9% compared to the same period last year. Imports, however, continue to rise. They accounted for 46% of the 5,089 trucks sold in October and so far this year make up 39.4% of all sales above 3.5 tonnes GVW.
Despite some odd fluctuations last month, there has been little change in the overall heavy truck manufacturers' league table for 1986. Bedford keeps fourth place with 9.3% (4,340 vehicles) while Volvo is holding fifth with 8.6% (4,009).
Next is RTI (Renault/ Dodge) with 8.1% (3,772) followed by Oaf with 5.7% (2,674). Scania, however, has eased ahead of MAN-VW. The Swedish manufacturer has sold 2,322 trucks giving it an improved 4.9% share, in front of MAN with its 4.8% stake based on 2,253 registrations.
Among the British manufacturers, ERF has improved its share to Mercedes-Benz UK says its October sales were helped indirectly by the Motor Show launch of its 1644 Powerliner, although many operators have been hurrying to buy the older models it replaces.
2.88%(1,342), fractionally ahead of Seddon Atkinson with 2.84%(1,324). Foden stays in twelth position with 1.04%, having sold 485 trucks so far this year.
Sales of medium/heavy vans during October rose by 16%(10,509), although overall the market is still below last year's total. As with heavy trucks, the sale of imported vans continues to rise. Up until the end of October, 49,356 imported vans and pickups were sold in the UK — 46.9% of the market.
Ford is gradually clawing back some of its lost van sales with the new Transit. It currently holds 33.6% of the sector (35,346 vehicles sold). Freight Rover keeps second place, despite a slight drop in sales, with 12.9%(13,604).
Bedford is in third place with a 10.7% stake (11,289), while Renault is in fourth position with 7.3%(7,775). Its panel van sales, however, are down, and it is being pushed hard by Nissan which has improved its 1986 sales by 92%.
Following its introduction of the Spanish-built Vanette, Nissan now holds a 6.7% market share with 7,082 vans sold this year.
MAN-VW has a 6.5% share, Mercedes-Benz 5.5% and Peugeot Talbot 5.4%. In the ever-growing carderived-van sector (up 5.59.1 during 1986) Ford is in first place with 27.6%, while Bedford holds second with 25.8%. Austin Rover is in third position with 20.4%. Imports in the CDV sector currently account for 30.2% of all sales.