Figures from the SMMT show that the UK bus and coach market fell 12.1 per cent in February to 356 units. The purpose-built sector dropped 44.4per cent in the month, down 18.6 per cent for the year-to-date. However, the converted bus market picked up, rising 31.2 per cent in February.
The SMMT has revealed that total UK commercial vehicle registrations grew by17.5 per cent in February to 13,320 with the rolling year figure up 15.1 per cent to 330,283. Van sales drove the CV growth with a strong February performance. A 28.2 per cent rise in the month to 11,731 registrations boosted the rolling 12 months by 13.8 per cent.
February new car registrations rose 3.0 per cent to 68,736 units; this means that the UK new car market has achieved 24 consecutive months of growth, increasing 17.4 per cent over the period. The SMMT suggests that rising GDP and growing car registrations signal increasing consumer confidence and automotive retailers are looking forward to March results as expectations rise for a strong 14-plate performance.
Yesterday the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders released its commercial vehicle market registration figures for February 2014, commenting that growth during the month was powered by strength in the van segment. Total commercial vehicle registrations in the UK grew 17.5 per cent in February to 13,320, rolling 15.1 per cent year up to 330,283. A 28.2 per cent year-on-year rise in van registrations to 11,731 registrations boosted the rolling 12 months by 13.8 per cent. The Euro-6-induced dip in truck volumes continued in February but the rate of decline slowed from January’s 37 per cent drop. The 12 months to February remained 22.4 per cent higher.
UK car production rose 4.5 per cent in first 11 months of year to 1,424,023 units, the SMMT reports. This means that output looks set to pass 1.5 million units in 2013, the first time this has occurred in six years.
Total commercial vehicle registrations were up strongly in November, rising by 22.7 per cent to 28,057 units in the month says the SMMT. The year-to-date CV market is up 10.9 per cent at 294,991 units and on track to top 300,000 units for first time in five years.
The SMMT has released figures showing that in October domestic demand supported the biggest monthly increase in 2013 UK car manufacturing
Car output in October rose 17.4 per cent to 160,854 units, the largest monthly increase so far this year. 1,286,287 cars have been produced in the year-to-date; a rise of 5.4 per cent.
While UK car output provided good news for the industry, commercial vehicles remained in steep decline, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show. CV output dropped 27.5 per cent in September to 6,963 units, meaning 67,609 CVs have been produced in 2013 to date, down 17.9 per cent from 2012.
SMMT figures show that bus and coach registrations were up 13.5 per cent to 1,036 units in September. However, registrations for the overall bus and coach market remain down 12.8 per cent for the year-to-date.
With rises in the number of registrations of buses, coaches and cars in September, the commercial vehicle sector continued the good news, with total CV registrations performing strongly in the month, up 12.4 per cent to 49,197 units. This means the overall commercial vehicle market is up 8.1 per cent for the year-to-date, at 239,356 units.
The SMMT has announced that Michael Hawes will be joining as its new chief executive in the early Autumn. According to the association, he will lead the executive team that will promote the interests and successes of the UK motor industry and help address the challenges of the current climate. He will also ensure the SMMT delivers stronger representation and engagement with all its stakeholders and help accelerate growth of the two key subsidiary companies: SMMT Industry Forum Limited and Motor Codes Limited.
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