May was a good month for the UK’s commercial vehicle manufacturers, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

UK CV output rose by 13.8% to 7,748 units in May, up from 6.808 during May 2015.

The bulk of these gains were due to a 23.5% rise in demand from UK buyers, reversing most of the decline we’ve seen so far this year:

SMMT CV production May 2016 (courtesy of SMMT)

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

“It’s good to see UK commercial vehicle manufacturing performing strongly in May which puts it on track for a positive 2016. The commercial vehicle market is linked to economic confidence in the UK and Europe, with 88% of UK-built CV exports shipped to the continent last year. For this performance to continue, we need to ensure we maintain free access to our main markets as well as pursuing new global opportunities.”

The news comes as European commercial vehicle markets reported a 17^th month of growth as the region continued its economic recovery. New commercial vehicle registrations in Europe grew 16.4% in May, with the market up 13.5% for the first five months of 2016.