Overall sales decline hides the peaks
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• Some significant increases in sales are hidden among the overall fall in registrations reported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Oaf points out, for example, that sales of three-axle tractive units have exploded at the expense of the two-axled unit sector which plummeted (see box). Three-axle tractors outweighed 4x2 units in the registration stakes by almost two to one. While this is the effect of the VED benefits of 41-tonne operation. other markets saw increases on the back of recovery in industries such as construction, which is currently enjoying its best year since 1988/69.
The three and four-axle rigid market grew for most manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz leaping 98.4% to 379 on the back of the recovery and its new Atego, The two biggest sellers in this sector, Oaf and Volvo, both saw increases, with the Swedish manufacturer's sales improving 31.8% to 1.186.
Iveco predicts that this expansion will not continue. It puts sales for all manufacturers in 2000 at 5,200—below 1998 levels. Renewed interest in areas such as recycling lead to a boost in multi-axle sales for municipals, with Dennis Eagle reporting a "flood" of orders in the last quarter of 1999.
John Boardman, Seddon Atkinson's general sales manager, says that while his firm's general haulage products were holding their own", its main success had also been in the municipal vehicle market.
Oaf's marketing director Tony Pain has also identified a noticeable increase in the use of three-axle rigids on distribution work, tradition
ally the domain of the 17/18-tonner.
Foden stands head and shoulders above the opposition with a remarkable hike of 27.5%. largely thanks to the new Alpha, particularly in 8x4 tipper and 6x4 tractor versions.
Driving licence legislation has pushed apart the market between 3.5 and 12 tonnes. Sales of 3.5-tonne vans remain stable but 7.5-tonne sales dropped as 12-tonners Improved.