Vauxhall Vivaro - built in Britain

Despite the gloomy van registration statistics released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) this week, the battle between the UK’s two ‘homegrown’ van manufacturers shows no signs of letting up.

Small businesses love Vauxhalls

In 2012, Vauxhall maintained its position as the most popular van manufacturers with retail buyers; small business and private customers who buy direct from a Vauxhall dealer.

The Luton-based manufacturer sold over 11,000 vehicles to small businesses.  Market share was 16%, with Vauxhall topping the monthly retail sales charts in March, April, September and December.

Ford is fleet favourite

Ford, on the other hand, remains the most popular commercial vehicle manufacturer overall, with the Brentwood-based company accounting for one in every five commercial vehicles sold in the UK in 2012.

Although the British-built Vauxhall Vivaro was the most popular medium van in the retail segment, the Ford Transit dominated the medium van sector overall, accounting for 30% of all medium vans sold in 2012, up from 26.8% in 2011: it is a fine van, and much newer than the current Vivaro design, which is due for replacement.

It’s a pity that Transits aren’t going to be made in Southampton anymore, especially as Vauxhall has managed to keep Vivaro manufacturing at Luton .

What do you drive?

Some people get very passionate when debating the relative merits of Fords and Vauxhalls. Leaving German brands aside, which do you prefer?

Personally, I’ve owned three Fords (one car and two Transits) and one Vauxhall (car) so far in my life and there has been nothing between them in terms of reliability and running costs — although I have to admit that I’ve liked my Fords more than I liked my old Vectra…