Young trucks power up
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• Britain's truck parc is getting younger every year — and the trend for more power is "inexorable", according to the latest research from Iveco Ford Truck.
In 1988 vehicles up to 3.9 years old accounted for well over 47% of all the HGVs operating on Britain's roads. And that figure could reach 49.9% this year, if the sales boom continues.
Speaking at the company's annual "State of the Nation" seminar last week, Iveco Ford marketing director David Gill reported that while the reduction in age in Britain's IIGV fleet 'provided a warning" that the market could be sensitive to downturns and interest rate rises, he is "reasonably optimistic" for prospects for 1989.
Overall, Gill reports that the HGV market is "amazingly stable". If sales stay at their current level for the rest of the year, 1989 will beat last year's record of 67,918 vehicles sold above 3.5 tonnes GVW, although Iveco Ford says that "it is unlikely that the market will be higher."
A drop in sales during 1989 is forecast by engine builder Cummins, which predicts a total of 63,000 vehicles registered above 3.5 tonnes. A drop of 7% from 1988.
Iveco Ford and Cummins both expect the demand for more powerful vehicles to continue in 1989.
0 1988 was a "very good year" for blew Ford, says commercial operations director Alan Fox. Last year it sold a record 16,506 vehicles to give it a leading 24.3% stake of the market above 3.5 tonnes GVW. The company also enjoyed an identical 24.3% jump in sales from 1987 levels. While its Langley plant produced a record number of Cargo trucks in 1988, supply of heavy tractors from Iveco plants on the Cantinent proved a problem last year.