SMMT van and truck registrations 2009-2015

New van registrations hit record high of 371,830 in 2015

Commercial vehicle registrations hit an all-time high of 423,894 units in the UK in 2015, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Total registrations last year were 16.7% higher than in 2014 and van registrations had the best year ever: 371,830 new vans hit the road in the UK in 2015, beating the previous record set in 2007.

UK van and truck registrations: 2015 and % change on 2014

December % change Year-to-date % change Rolling year % change
Vans 30,410 14.6% 371,830 15.6% 371,830 15.6%
Trucks 4,880 68.4% 52,064 25.5% 52,064 25.5%
Total 35,290 19.9% 423,894 16.7% 423,894 16.7%

Data courtesy of SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk)

Booming demand for vans must surely be evidence of UK economic growth and perhaps the tail end of the delayed replacement cycle many companies adopted during the recession. Although If I was cynical, I might also suggest that an element of this strong demand is the result of too much cheap credit sloshing around the system, fuelled by low interest rates…

Mike Hawes, who is the SMMT’s chief executive, is certainly not a cynic like me. Commenting on these figures, Mr Hawes said that “CV demand is a key barometer of UK economic confidence”. Interestingly, however, he did comment that “with these record figures in mind, we will expect to see the market levelling off slightly in 2016”.

I’d agree with the last comment: trees don’t grow to the sky and having hit record levels, there doesn’t seem any logical reason to expect demand to continue to soar. Demand must now surely return to more normal levels?

As ever I will watch with interest as the year unfolds, but I will end today’s post with a remarkable graph showing how van registrations have rocketed higher since 2013:

SMMT van and truck registrations 2009-2015

SMMT van and truck registrations Dec 2009-Dec 2015

5 thoughts on “New van registrations hit record high of 371,830 in 2015

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