Van sales rose by 16.7% in 2011, with sales up 2.8% in December alone, according to the year-end figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

A total of 260,153 vans (commercial vehicles under 3.5t, including pickups and some 4x4s) were registered last year. The SMMT figures also highlight the popularity of the 2.5t-3.5t van sector – 57.8% of vans sold in 2011 were 2.5t-3.5t models, such as the Volkswagen Transporter, Vauxhall Vivaro, Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter.

Vauxhall Vans Are Small Business Favourites

Vauxhall Vivaro

Vauxhall sold more vans at retail than any other van manufacturer in the UK in 2011. Selling at retail normally means selling to small businesses, who buy their vans from dealers, rather than as fleet purchases.

Despite the increasing age of the Vauxhall Vivaro, it remains good to drive, stylish and a firm favourite with small business owners, topping the retail medium van segment in 2011 with sales up 58%.

Vauxhall’s very attractive offer of  four years’ zero per cent APR finance, four years’ free servicing, a four year warranty and four years’ AA cover no doubt helped seal a few of these deals.

The current Vivaro (also badged as Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar) is built at Vauxhall’s Luton plant and Vauxhall fans will be pleased to know that the next generation Vivaro will also be built in Luton, continuing a decade-long tradition.