LCV registrations lower in April

Registrations of new light commercial vehicles decreased in April, falling 18.8 per cent to 22,625 units, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance follows a period of rapidly growing levels of demand, with registrations in April 2016 the highest on record.

Both the small and large van segments experienced a decline in April, with demand for vans under 2.0 tonnes 37.5 per cent lower than a year earlier, while vans weighing 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes fell were down 23.1 per cent. The medium sized van market, however, remained broadly stable, dipping just 0.2 per cent, while pickups continued to increase in popularity, with demand growing 4.5 per cent last month.

“April is traditionally a small month for new LCV registrations following the plate-change in March and, coming on the back of double-digit growth that resulted in a record April in 2016, this month’s decline comes as no surprise,” comments SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes. “Overall, the market remains robust, however, and so long as business confidence among operators can be maintained, we expect to see the market remain at what is a historically high level over the course of the year.”