The new van market got off to a positive start in 2017, with January seeing a small 1.2% growth in registrations at 21,363 compared to the same month in 2016.
According to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), heavy vans weighing between 2.5 and 3.5t, which make up the bulk of the market, rose 5.6% in January. Meanwhile, pickups’ popularity continued to grow following a successful 2016, with registrations increasing 28.9%.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Vans are the backbone of British business so it is positive to see the strength of the market continue into 2017. With the success of the sector so closely linked to business confidence, government must ensure the conditions that have delivered this growth are maintained.”
The big winner is Ford, entering its 52nd year of UK CV market leadership and it has been confirmed that in 2016 it was also the most popular CV brand in Europe. Sales of Ford CVs were up 22.4 per cent at 7,709, compared with January 2016. Ford’s CV market share in January was 36.1 per cent, up from 29.8 per cent in January 2016 and marks Ford highest CV share since January 1990.
Ford’s fresh and extended CV range is delivering record levels of CV sales with CV registrations more than double those of its nearest rival. Fiesta Van (1st), Transit Courier (1st), Transit Connect (1st), Transit Custom (1st), Transit (1st) and Ranger (1st) are all placed first in their respective market segments.
