CV sales recovering
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COMMERCIAL vehicle sales last month were 6.3 per cent up March 1981, and even the hitherto depressed over-3.5 tonne sect has started to recover, according to figures released by the Socie of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Sales of all goods vehicles last month rose from 19,782 to 21,026, with British manufacturers' sales rising from 14,001 to 14,857, and importers' sales from 5,734 to 6,169. Sales of vehicles over 3.5 tonnes rose from 4,421 to 5,289, with British manufacturers' sales rising from 3,520 to 3,937, and importers from 901 to 1,352, giving them a 25.5 per cent share of the March sales.
Medium and heavy van sales rose from 8,071 to 8,321, and light van sales rose from 6,291 to 6,636. Only the light 4x4 sector, which no longer includes cars like the Range Rover or Mercedes G-Series, fell from 999 to 780.
Ford topped the over-3.5 tonne sector, with sales up from 1,495 to 1,774, of which three were Dutch-built Transcontinenta Is. Transconti production moves later this month to Sandbach Engineering.
Bedford came second with sales up from 581 to 789. Karrier with sales up from 468 to 545 (483 Dodge, 10 Spanish Dodge, and 52 Renault) was third, and Leyland was fourth with sales down from 666 to 471 after the strike earlier this year. Last ye Leyland came second to For
Top importer was Volv with sales up from 229 to 3: followed by Mercedes-Benz wi 286 (up from 214), DAF with 2 (up from 106), IVECO with 1 (up from 153), and Scania wi 139 (up from 73).
Ford was top of the mediur heavy van sector with 3,1 sales, followed by 941 Genei Motors (855 Bedford, 82 Bedfo KB Isuzu pick-ups, and four oth GM), and 794 Freight Roy Sherpas, a rise there from 635 March 1981.
The Japanese worry hi eased, with sales of Datsu Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, S zuki, and Toyota vans all dow Top light van manufactur( once again, was Ford with 2,62 followed by 1,780 Austin Roy( and 1,394 Bedford. Land Roy sold 481 light 4x4s, followed 1 Toyota with 103, and Datsi with 100.