Finance Shortage “Hurting Commercial Vehicle Dealers”

Commercial vehicle dealers are feeling the pain resulting from falls in the availability and affordability of finance, according to EurotaxGlass’s – publisher of Glass’s Guide to Used Commercial Vehicles. “This scenario has conspired to reduce business confidence,” explains George Alexander, Editor of the Guide. “Existing vehicle-owners and fleet operators are adopting a ‘make-do’ attitude with regard to the vehicles they have for the time being.” However, Alexander notes that the efforts made to support world financial markets could ensure that the current weakness in retail sales will not gain momentum as 2008 comes to a close.

“In fact, with UK interest rates belatedly coming down there might soon be some limited signs of stability. If this were to coincide with a strengthening of consumer confidence, then there could be a noticeable ‘pre-Christmas uplift’ effect for van sales such as we would expect to see in more normal times. “Failing such an optimistic outcome, the best that can be said is that we might now have started down the long road to recovery,” concludes Alexander.