Sales hopes rise
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• There are continuing signs of recovery in the transport industry with truck manufacturers posting April production levels up nearly 25% on last year.
SMMT figures show that British CV production hit 22,555 — up 24.6% on last April's 18,100. Exports rose 23.8% to 12,556.
Production for the first four months of 1992 was up 17.53% to 89,399, helped by an export figure up 38.97% to 51,732.
Improvements in the truck market are also reflected by the quarterly Global Car and Truck Forecast.
The author, Landell Mills Commodities Studies, says a worldwide recovery in truck sales should start this year.
Glass's Guide agrees, predicting a sales boost over the next few months as fleets come up for replacement.
However, another report from Sewells' Franchise Networks states that CV dealers are fighting to survive on half the sales per outlet they enjoyed two years ago. There were 641 dealers in 1991, says the report, down 4% on the 1990 figure but it believes there has been a real reduction of 15%.
The SMMT strikes a note of caution too. Chief economist Michael Hollingsworth says: "This sector of the industry has a long way to go to make up for the past two years."