May
Commercial Vehicle Editorial –May 2013
Most market commentators will consider that the overall condition of any van or truck plays a greater role in determining its worth than the distance it has covered. Yet, what the odometer or tachograph reveals is an undeniably important factor in the sales equation, especially for lighter vehicles.
With heavy commercials, the c... more
May
Commercial Vehicle Market Trend –May 2013
REGISTRATIONS
SMMT statistics for March confirmed that those patterns established over the early part of 2013 now look set to shape the entire year. A solid performance from the LCV sectors saw increased registrations of 11.5% over the month, generating an 11.7% improvement for the first quarter.
In the truck sectors, low de... more
April
Commercial Vehicle Guide Editorial – April 2013
When buying a new van, if the ownership costs are to be minimised, then the returns generated at the end of its time in your service must be maximised. Therefore it becomes necessary to consider how it will be perceived when offered as a used van, and to whom it will appeal. If, on consideration of the proposed mileage it is likely to co... more
April
MARKET TRENDS
REGISTRATIONS
• SMMT statistics for February revealed that the market sentiment directed towards LCVs had firmed significantly, with the opposite being true for heavies. With an outcome that was closely aligned to January’s performance, registrations for lightweights rose by nearly 12%, whilst slipping across the truck sectors by more than 16%.
... more
March
Commercial Vehicle Guide Editorial and Market Trend – March 2013
Guide Condition is the defined standard for a vehicle’s mechanical condition and bodywork presentation and is detailed at the front of each Guide. For the successful application of Guide values it’s essential that you know how we describe a used commercial vehicle when it does, or more importantly, does not conform t... more
February
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - February 2013
Whilst full year commercial vehicle registration statistics for 2012, released by the SMMT at the end of the first week in January, were disappointing, the statistics for December could hardly have been worse.
Comparison of this closing month over recent times clearly illustrates that business confidence remains fragile, wit... more
February
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - February 2013
USED LIGHTWEIGHTS
Across the used commercial vehicle market, the New Year got off to a better start than many had predicted; yet, with quality stock being in such short supply it is not surprising that the model mix on offer has become somewhat uninspiring.
Inevitably, the big vendors are in the best position... more
January
Commercial Vehicle Editorial – January 2013
The New Norm?
Although demand for used light commercial vehicles stood above the seasonal norm over the previous 3 months, in December this bullish sentiment slipped back a notch or two. This should not be taken as a sign of pending market weakness, yet more a necessary correction to the surge seen over the autumn when, followin... more
January
Commercial Vehicle Market Trend – January 2013
MARKET TRENDS
REGISTRATIONS
The most recent full month registration statistics to be released by the SMMT are those for November and, despite not being full year figures, as feared they confirm the picture for 2012 to not be a pretty one. With just one month’s registrations statistics still to be announced it’s ... more
December
Commercial Vehicle Editorial – December 2012
LESS FOR MORE
The data we’ve gathered together over the past couple of months confirms that the underlying trends in the market for LCVs are moving in a positive direction. The headline points were that, between September and October, the average price for all used LCVs sold at auction increased from £4,550 to £4,67... more
December
Commercial Vehicle Market Trend - December
REGISTRATIONS
• With a fall of 8.1%, when compared to the same month in 2011, recently released SMMT registration figures for October highlighted underlying weakness across the whole commercial vehicle market.
• Sales of new LCVs in 2012 will fall short of last year’s modest tally with any last minute improvement having o... more
November
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - November 2012
For all commercial vehicles, Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) came into force last month thereby extending the existing Type Approval rules to encompass those vehicles with chassis based bodywork. In addition to ensuring that there is a consistent standard that must be worked to, this European directive will hopefully harmonise the l... more
November
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - November 2012
REGISTRATIONS
In September, registration figures for light commercial vehicles improved by 1.1% over the corresponding month last year whilst, disappointingly, those for trucks fell back by 1.5%.
A closer look at these SMMT statistics shows that the underlying growth for the heavy commercial vehicle sectors remains rob... more
October
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - October 2012
Increasingly, traditional attitudes to running fleet vans are not those that will best chime in today’s climate. A typical light commercial vehicle operator will not be an expert on what will, or will not, bolster residual values. Accordingly, it’s in everyone’s interests that, when specifying new LCVs, mistakes are not made t... more
October
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - October 2012
REGISTRATIONS
In August, the rough road that commercial vehicle registrations have been plodding got rougher. Statistics released by the SMMT for LCVs highlighted the dire state of UK business confidence with a 12.5% fall for the month. After 8 months, the year-to-date (YTD) position is 8.1% lower.
Heavyweights fared li... more
September 
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - September 2012
Where both retail and trade values are not being adjusted to reflect actual condition, expensive mistakes will creep into any deal struck. No two commercial vehicles are the same; have covered the same distance or have identical interior/exterior condition – down to the depth of tyre tread. VED licence remaining should be taken into... more
September
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - September 2012
REGISTRATIONS
Encouragingly, July’s registration statistics for LCVs showed a strong improvement above 10%. However, disappointingly and in an about face to the previous pattern, these same SMMT figures revealed a decline of more than 2% for the heavy commercials.
Although this was a poor result for ... more
August
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - August 2012
SMMT registration statistics for June were again mixed. The surge in truck numbers continued unabated with a monthly improvement of nearly 15% giving a year-to-date uplift of a whopping 26%. Disappointingly, LCVs slipped back in June by more than 2% on this same month last year. After 6 months this leaves registrations of vehicles below ... more
August
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - August 2012
USED LIGHTWEIGHTS
• Over the past few weeks, despite improved attendance levels being reported at auctions across the country, prices have slipped markedly with vendors becoming increasingly reliant on on-line bidders.
• Quality stock is scarce, and if ex-utility and repeat entry lots are excluded, there ... more
July
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - July 2012
Over the past 4 years, the commercial vehicle market has largely managed to shrug off much of the financial turmoil that troubled the nation. Despite the market for new commercial vehicles regularly grinding to a halt, fortunately, a sufficient number of customers decided that the wise thing to do was to buy a used van instead. Now, in inc... more
July
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - July 2012
REGISTRATIONS
For May, SMMT statistics finally offered us all a glimmer of hope with an improvement for the month that was well above 6%. This leaves the forecasters having to ponder whether or not such a belated upturn can wipe out the YTD slippage that stands close to 12%. With 7 months remaining we at Glass believe that ... more
June
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - June 2012
In an ever more challenging environment for new LCVs, franchised dealers have struggled to remain profitable. With the Olympic Games and the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations to look forward to, it had been hoped that the domestic economy would, by now, be showing signs of improvement. Thus far, there has been little spin off for our industry... more
June
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - June 2012
AUCTION OVERVIEW
LCV sales at the big auction locations have seen a drop in physical attendance over the last month, as levels of ex-utility stock remains high. As the summer lull takes hold, dealers will continue to bid cautiously, preferring to buy only sufficient numbers to satisfy firm orders.
With growing numbers of o... more
May
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - May 2012
This traditional good luck saying purports to set out the recipe for good fortune and success when choosing a wedding outfit. When conjuring up the ideal panel van to marry to the varied needs of UK operators, it seems that the designers of the All New Transit might have followed this same mantra. In so doing, Ford has come up with another ... more
May
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - May 2012
REGISTRATIONS
In March, there was a further fall in registrations for light commercial vehicles, this time by more than 11%. Year-to-date numbers released by the SMMT revealed that the sub-3.5 tonne sector now stands close to 15% lower than in the first quarter last year. A sympathetic reading of this poor performance would ... more
April
Commercial Vehicle Editorial – April 2012
The first quarter of 2012 encompassed both highs and lows within the commercial vehicle market and delivered something of a confusing message. For LCVs, the year kicked off on a high note, with demand and prices maintaining an impressive pace despite big volumes of vans being offered at each venue across the land. Sentiment at this poin... more
April
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - April 2012
REGISTRATIONS
• In February, for those hoping to see sales momentum carried forward into 2012, SMMT registration data provided both good and bad news. The truck sectors duly delivered with an improvement of more than 36% compared to this same month a year ago. Admittedly, this marketplace had shrunk massively and, theref... more
March
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - March 2012
When specifying LCVs for your fleet, the first consideration should be to ensure that they are fit for purpose; yet this should not lead to vehicles being so specialist as to make them of little use to a second owner. Avoiding those pitfalls that are all too commonly to be seen in the auction halls is essential if this journey is to lead to... more
March
Commercial Vehicle Market trends - March 2012
REGISTRATIONS
• January’s SMMT figures for commercial vehicle registrations delivered something of a mixed bag. With 14,338 recorded sales, the LCV market shrank year-on-year by more than 16%; whilst at 3,586 units, the heavy market leapt ahead by more than 45%.
• These very different performances led to total c... more
February
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - February 2012
Full year statistics for 2011 released by the SMMT in the first week of the New Year show that registrations for LCVs grew by 16.7% and for HCVs by 24.6%. In predicting strong growth across the van and truck sectors in 2011, Glass’s had been a lone voice, yet subsequently been proven correct. At the start of last year we wrote, ‘In... more
February
Commercial Vehicle Market Trend - February 2012
USED LIGHTWEIGHTS
• Over the first few weeks of 2012, it became obvious that demand for almost any capable van or pick-up was high. Currently, and regardless of model, prices paid are peppering Guide Trade.
• Some suggest that a north/south divide has developed with most of the auction action being seen in the s... more
January
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - January 2012
Politicians from several member states within the EU monetary union have exhibited a shameless disregard for the rules they agreed to in 2000. As a result the euro can now only be salvaged by tearing up the original treaty and starting again. Even this is likely to result in little more than a compromise deal that will soon begin to unr... more
January
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - January 2012
REGISTRATIONS
• With LCVs posting an improvement approaching 19% and the truck sectors managing an impressive uplift of more than 21%, November’s SMMT registration figures delivered confirmation that demand remained on a high with YTD increases for lights and heavies standing above 17% & 24% respectively. Encouraging... more
December
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - December 2011
As we approach the close of a year that delivered mixed fortune to many of us, it might be useful to consider how best to approach a new (and probably even more mixed) year in a manner that will deliver consistent profits.
Taking stock of past experiences and using best practice to fashion sustainable business models for 2... more
December
Commercial Vehicle Market trends - December 2011
REGISTRATIONS
• In October, SMMT registration statistics for both light and heavy commercial vehicles each moved in a positive direction by an impressive amount. LCVs improved by nearly 7% and for trucks registrations jumped by more than 30%. In turn, this lifted the comparable year-to-date position agains... more
November
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - November 2011
With times being so hard, it’s easy to slip into penny-pinching mode, yet often it’s not such a good idea. If you operate a small fleet of LCVs and want to maximise the RV returns you’re getting at disposal time, it is vital to consider the mix of vehicles you run. Variety has always been the spice of life and, if applied to how... more
November
Commercial Vehicle Market trends - November 2011
REGISTRATIONS
• Against the same month in 2010, SMMT registration data for September revealed healthy uplifts of 9.4% for lightweights and a more modest 3.6% improvement for heavies.
• After 9 months, this has lifted the year-to-date performance of the total market to nearly 22% above last year’s ... more
October
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - October 2011
With world economies again teetering as the UK’s own financial stability appears far from secure, prospects for the market for used commercial vehicle are not necessarily bleak. This was demonstrated 3 years ago when all around them was crashing down, those businesses that kept a cool head and re-shaped strategies to meet the needs of... more
October
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - October 2011
REGISTRATIONS
In August, sales of new vans, 4x4s and trucks all rose strongly. Figures released by the SMMT revealed that, for the month, total commercial vehicle registrations were up by close to 23%.
Both the LCV and HCV sectors each played their part with nigh on identical percentage uplifts.
Now, that ... more
September
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - September 2011
Following a great deal of uncertainty across both world and domestic financial markets, with possibly worse to come, it might be as well to anticipate what consequences this could have on your business. As the 2008 recession remains fresh in our minds, it should not be too difficult to list those actions which at that time proved effe... more
September
Commercial Vehicle Registrations
REGISTRATIONS
With an overall uplift of 3% over the same month in 2010, commercial vehicle registrations figures released by the SMMT for July were most welcome. Although somewhat disappointingly, for the first time in several months sales of new LCVs below 3.5 tonnes slipped (-0.8%) yet, thankfully, registrations of heavyweights rose ... more
August
Manufacturing company Nissan is taking a potential 35,000 Navara Pick-up’s off the road after fears the alloy wheels could crack.
Owners should take them to a main dealer for immediate safety checks after the fault was discovered in Holland. No incidents have yet been reported.
... more
August
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - August 2011
The purpose of any commercial vehicle is to do work and the measure of this is payload. The task in hand can differ from people-carrying in a minibus to muck-carrying in an 8-wheel tipper. However, whether it’s a heavy chassis moving 10 tonnes of aggregate, a double-cab pick-up needing to be able to take a 1 tonne payload in order to r... more
August
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - August 2011
REGISTRATIONS
SMMT statistics for July show that the green shoots of recovery have been making good headway and are now well established. With total commercial vehicle registrations for the month up by well over 12%, the year-to-date total for the first half of 2011 stands 24% above the comparable tally for 2010. It... more
July
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - July 2011
With the recent change of fortunes for Modec and Smiths Electric, it will now fall largely to the major marques to drive sales of electric vehicles (EVs) forward. Over the coming years, battery powered LCVs are destined to become a more common sight on our city roads. Should some of the projections currently being put forward by a wide range... more
July
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - July 2011
REGISTRATIONS
With a tally that was just slightly above 23,000, SMMT statistics showed registrations rose by more than 17% in May and were standing 27% higher year-to-date. Although undoubtedly welcome, these are the kind of improvements that must be sustained over the coming months if the market for new vans and trucks... more
June
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - June 2011
There has been too much samey stock swilling around the auction halls over past six months and unsurprisingly, this has taken its toll on prices. Also, with the periodic flagging of buyer numbers at auction occasionally flagging, it has fallen to online buyers to keep things honest. However, the ongoing commentary on market weakness and co... more
June
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - June 2011
REGISTRATIONS
Commercial vehicle registrations in April grew by more than 24% which, despite all the doom and gloom on the wider financial front, is an indication that recovery is underway. Hopefully, these SMMT statistics suggest that the strong performance seen over the first 4 months of 2011 (+29.4%) is set to continue t... more
May
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - May 2011
As Ireland, Greece and Portugal can now testify, the global financial crash was never going to be resolved either easily or quickly. However, domestically, it is apparent to even the most pessimistic amongst us that things are continuing to slowly improve. Along the way, some fundamental attitudes have been challenged and most of us have ha... more
May
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - May 2011
REGISTRATIONS
Statistics released by the SMMT for March again showed impressive gains over this same month a year ago. With an increase of 27% for LCVs and 11% for HCVs, an overall improvement of over 25% was chalked up. For the first quarter, the combined registration total stood nearly 23% higher than for the same period in 2... more
April
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - April 2011
The adverse knee-jerk reaction by retail customers to high recorded mileage has long been irrational. Forget full service history, unmarked paintwork along with pristine interior condition and a Blue Chip company name on the V5, most customers focus on mileage. When the distance covered is low, but the van is a wreck, its market value is... more
April
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - April 2011
REGISTRATIONS
Commercial vehicle registrations in February rose sharply with SMMT statistics revealing that vans and trucks rose by nearly 24% & 51% respectively, when compared to the same month in 2010. The outlook for 2011 remains mostly positive, apart from the fear that growth will be stifled by any further bad news em... more
March
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - March 2011
The shortages of used light commercial vehicles that had been widely predicted have not materialised. In fact, auction halls are currently awash with vans and 4x4 pick-ups covering most years, with a wide range of models in all conditions. Fortunately, there are sufficient buyers available to swallow the vast majority of these LCVs at pri... more
March
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - March 2011
REGISTRATIONS
For the first month of 2011, commercial vehicle registrations for both vans and trucks improved sharply, which got the New Year off to a flying start. Figures released by the SMMT showed improvements of nearly 49% & 59% respectively. These encouraging statistics, coming on the heels of strong performances in... more
February
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - February 2011
USED LIGHTWEIGHTS
Despite the poor weather at the start of the year, attendances at auction have been steady with on-line activity increasing as, quite reasonably, more dealers opted to work from their offices. Yet seasonality has become an issue. Over the past couple of months, growing numbers of vans being de-fl... more
February
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - February
Thanks to the sterling efforts of franchised dealers, a month-on-month rise in registrations of more than 25% was posted for December 2010. Compared to this same month in 2009, big uplifts in LCV and HCV registration were delivered of more than 21% and 51% respectively. The table below compares the market’s performance in December over the ... more
January
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - January 2011
If there was one New Year’s resolution we would wish our subscribers to make, it would be that they always adjust Guide values for condition.
What is Guide Condition? It is the defined standard for any vehicle’s mechanical and bodywork retail presentation, and is detailed at the front of the Guide. It’s crucia... more
January
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - January 2011
Once again, SMMT figures provided us with some much needed good news. In November, registrations for heavies leapt ahead by an impressive 79% and for lightweights 26%. This leaves LCVs up by more than 16% year-to-date whilst the gains made by heavies in November leaves them nearly 9% lower on the same period in 2009. Overa... more
December
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - December 2010
Most pundits agree that to make sense of running electric vans, fleets will need to extend their ownership period to at least 5, maybe 7 years. Yet the current batch of EVs, come with batteries warranted from 2 to 5 years. This creates a ticking bomb for those first adopters who take the plunge and buy an electric vehicle (EV... more
December
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - December 2010
Compared to the previous month, when truck sales took a dive, October's registration figures improved by almost 80%. In one fell swoop, this late, but very welcome, surge slashed the year-to-date sales deficit for trucks by more than 5%. At this rate, despite there being just two months' registration figures to be gathere... more
November
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - November 2010
SMMT statistics for September reflected a returning confidence in the marketplace for light commercial vehicles; they also highlighted just how variable the wider recovery is. Whilst registrations figures for vans leapt ahead by 24%, those for trucks crashed by 29%. Despite the combination of these performances resultin... more
November
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - November 2010
From the start of 2011, the standard rate of Value Added Tax rises from 17.5% to 20%. This follows the previous Government’s ‘stimulus’ measure of having dropped the rate temporarily to 15%. Most commentators agree that a 2.5% reduction in VAT had only a minimal effect in stimulating the economy; mainly due to many re... more
September
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - October 2010
As the wise American once said, “If you’re in the business of selling new motor vehicles, you’re in the business of selling used motor vehicles”. The first life for any commercial vehicle can be viewed as being one of partnership between fleet owner and manufacturer. It’s in the interests of all to ensure that the po... more
September
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - October 2010
In August, commercial vehicle registrations rose by more than 13% when compared to the same month last year. Figures released by the SMMT confirm that van sales where up by more than 15% and trucks by nearly 6%. Hopefully, this improved performance across the commercial vehicle market now indicates that the tempo is set to... more
September
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - September 2010
The market for used LCVs has been almost completely devoid of petrol powered examples for as long as most people can recall. Generally, the closest sighting today is the occasional LPG converted Astra. So why has the use of gasoline in LCVs taken such a long (and enforced) vacation and why do some believe it’s about to mak... more
September
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - September 2010
SMMT registration figures in July were far more encouraging, showing an overall improvement of nearly 23% over the same month in 2009. Most pleasing was that the truck sectors finally demonstrated positive movement, which will hopefully not just be another false dawn. Although, YTD sales for commercial vehicles above 3.5... more
August
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - August 2010
The past 3 months could well be described as having been a trying time for the majority of businesses. Although noises coming from the coalition government are largely supportive of the enterprise culture, cuts of 25% (and more) within much of the public sector will hit many companies and inevitably stifle retail demand in thos... more
August
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - August 2010
SMMT registration figures for June were considerably more encouraging than those seen over recent months, with lightweight commercial vehicle sales up by more than 17% on the same month in 2009. Below 3.5 tonnes, the picture has been steadily improving over the past 6 months with expectations for the 2010 tally being around... more
July
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - July 2010
Far too often, the worst residual value performances accompany those occasions when fleet or rental customers had bought new vans that were not suitably specified to meet second user’s requirements. Such omissions will simply store up big problems for the future and, in so doing, may adversely affect the reputation of that marq... more
July
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - July 2010
SMMT registration figures for May contained a mixed bag of good and bad performances. Light commercial vehicles sales were strong, showing a monthly uplift of nearly 33% with better than 15% improvement year-to-date. This is very good news for all those active in the sub-3.5 tonne sector and starts to repair the damage reeked... more
June
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - June 2010
A cursory overview of the low registrations for light commercial vehicles over the past couple of years, together with the rising demand for good used vans and pick-ups at all ages, highlights the enormity of the shortfall that we are about to face.
Below, we show the SMMT registration statistics over the past 7 years ... more
June
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - June 2010
SMMT registration figures for April were more disappointing than had been expected, presumably reflecting that the results in March were buoyed-up with something of a mini-surge as the financial year closed. However, despite the truck sectors falling back by more than 17% for the month, LCVs managed a very respectable year-... more
May
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - May 2010
SMMT registration figures for March brought a little more good news for hard hit franchised dealers. In particular, the statistics for trucks suggested that something of a tipping-point had been reached. Here, despite recording no improvement over the same month in 2009, this is a vast improvement on the 36% drop in February. ... more
May
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - May 2010
Following the difficult times our industry faced over the long months of recession, and despite being told that the worst is over, the mood remains one of caution that will not be discarded lightly. Naturally, few businesses wish to take on any unnecessary risk, or continue along a course that brought dealers so much grief.
more
April
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - April 2010
It would now seem to be certain that within the coming months, after a short absence, inflation will have returned to the UK’s economy. This is not going to be the runaway variety seen in the 1970s but, nevertheless, it will need to be managed by the BoE, presumably by raising interest rates. Therefore, we must manage the co... more
April
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - April 2010
At last, there is some good news to report from the new registration front. SMMT statistics for LCVs in February leapt forward by more than 26% and, after the first two months of 2010, stand nearly 9% ahead of the corresponding period in 2009. Although it is unlikely that this rate of improvement will become the norm, there ... more
March
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - March 2010
With a fall of less than 2%, SMMT registrations figures for lightweights in January were less awful than feared, but not for heavies which slipped by more than 48%. The hope has to be that sales of vans and 4x4s will soon be squarely in positive territory, with trucks achieving this same landmark over the summer months. Our ... more
March
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - March 2010
When in the last edition we reviewed full-year commercial vehicles registrations, the inescapable conclusion was that 2009 had been a terrible year for sales of new vans and trucks. We followed this up with some fairly dire warnings of just how bad things could get before, hopefully, improving. Yet perhaps for many of us the... more
February
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - February 2010
Full year figures for commercial vehicle registrations in 2009 became available at the end of the first week of the New Year. No matter how long we scrutinise these numbers looking for some morsel of encouragement, the only conclusion is that they could hardly have been worse. In earlier times, delivering this kind of bad new... more
February
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - February 2010
Despite the festive period witnessing some slowdown across the marketplace, momentum built steadily over the latter part of January with few signs of the traditional lacklustre start to any New Year. By stark contrast, new sales have yet to find a forward gear and are unlikely to improve much until after the General Ele... more
January
Commercial Vehicle Editorial - January 2010
The knee-jerk reaction of many a retail customer to high recorded mileage is often negative. Forget full service history, unmarked paintwork along with pristine interior condition, and a Blue Chip company name in the V5 – most customers think mileage. Obviously, if the distance covered is low but the van is a wreck, then its... more
January
Commercial Vehicle Market Trends - January 2010
November’s LCV registrations were just 0.7% below the comparable figure for the same month last year, but it should be appreciated that sales in the closing months of 2008 were especially poor. After 11 months, the year-to-date total was nearly 37% lower. For the truck sectors, November’s figures (down by more than 54%... more
