Signs of upturn in
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vehicle sales BRITAIN'S commercial vehicle market in May was below last year's levels. But there were some signs of a recovery with the cut back in sales less marked than in earlier months this year.
Figures released this week by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that 18,631 commercials—including car derived vans, commercials up to 3.i tons gvw and all goods vehicles over 3i tons—were sold during May.
This was 5i per cent less than in May 1975, but must be seen against the figures for the first five months of the year when sales were down by 12 per cent to 92,307.
Importers continued to lift their market share and claimed 13.5 per cent of May sales (10.5 in May 1975) and 12.9 per cent over the five months compared to 12 per cent in the same period last year.
Market leader for both May and the total five months was Ford by a short head from Ley land. Both accounted for roughly 30 per cent of all sales Bedford saw its market share rise from 15.9 per cent to 18.8 per cent and in the over 3.5 tons field claimed to have taken the lead over its corn petitors with 25 per cent of registrations.
Newcomer Datsun, which had only three sales in the first five months last year, was the third largest importer with 1,347 sales,