After a record 2015, registrations of vans in the UK more or less levelled off in January with a 4.3 per cent fall in demand compared with the same month last year, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 21,102 new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) were registered in January, making it the first month of decline since July 2015.
We’ve heard that European new car registrations went up by 9.3 per cent in 2015 and we’ve heard that the UK delivered record figures. But what has been less widely reported is the fact that the strong European increase has been driven by what analysts have called “an SUV boom”. A boom that the British market played a key part in.
For the first time in the history of European car sales, SUVs led the way, outselling the traditional subcompact and compact segments, posting an increase of 24 per cent at 3.2 million units. Their market share grew from 19.8 per cent in 2014 to 22.5 per cent in 2015, leaving the subcompacts in second position with 22 per cent share, and the compacts segment third with 20.6 per cent. These vehicles along with the mid-size saloons and sports cars were the only segments to gain market share in 2015.
ACEA European passenger car registrations figures show the market grew 9.3 per cent year-on-year to 13.71 million units in 2015, helped by a 16.6 per cent year-on-year jump in December. Future growth is not expected to continue at this rate because the market situation is said to be “still evolving”, “risky” and “volatile”. As a result analysts predict 2.5 per cent year-on-year growth during the next month.
Following SMMT’s release of record 2015 UK car registration figures, market analysts at IHS have offered commented on the brand and model trends the numbers reveal.
UK new car registration figures for December 2015 released by the SMMT show a remarkable 8.4 per cent increase on the same period last year and, when combined with the previous 11 months of data, reflect an overall market improvement of 6.3 percent for 2015 over 2014.
Annual registrations of new cars in the UK grew for the fourth consecutive year in 2015 and exceeded 2.6 million units for the first time. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the market has posted increases in all bar one of the past 46 months, and a bumper December – up 8.4 per cent and the biggest ever – saw 180,077 new cars registered.
SMMT figures reveal that that it was a similar story of recovery for commercial vehicles, as registrations of commercial vehicles rose 13.9 per cent in November to 33,303 units. As with cars, this sales growth followed a dip in October.
Van registrations posted a 9.6 per cent rise in the month, continuing the general trend seen over the past few years with businesses having grown in confidence and online deliveries surging in popularity.
While November saw a rise in car sales, SMMT figures show that it was far from a good month for the VW Group in the UK: Volkswagen sales in Britain tumbled in November with new car registrations of VW-branded models falling 20 per cent year-on-year in the wake of the diesel emissions rigging scandal.
The latest car registration figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the market is levelling off, after a 1 per cent drop in October 2015 figures. 177,664 new cars were registered in the month, down 1.1 per cent on last year’s figure, following 43 consecutive months of growth.
European passenger car registrations continued their growth phase with another strong monthly rise in September. According to ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association) figures, growth was up 9.8 per cent year-on-year to 1,356,868 units.
According to Glass’s, publishers of the motor trade bible Guide, a falsely buoyant picture is likely to be painted by September’s new plate change – despite the probability that it will show the 42nd consecutive monthly increase in new car registrations. Glass’s add that the situation is being complicated by record levels of pre-registrations and there are some worrying factors about to come into play.
UK CV registrations rose 3.7 per cent in July, with strong truck demand outweighing a small drop in vans, according to SMMT figures.
The year-to-date performance for the overall market remained positive, with 2015 registrations up 19.3 per cent. One factor is the operators’ continued drive for maximum efficiency, which was reflected in surging demand for heavier vans and trucks.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), show that new car registrations saw steady growth in July – the 41st consecutive month of increases. 178,420 cars were registered – an uplift of 3.2 per cent on the same month last year – while registrations in 2015 so far have risen 6.5 per cent to surpass 1.5 million.
Figures released by ACEA show that, in June 2015, demand for new passenger cars in the EU was up (+14.6 per cent), pursuing the upward trend commenced 22 months ago and marking the largest over-the-month increase since December 2009.
Figures from the Motor Cycle Industry Association show that, in June, registrations of scooters and mopeds were down -7.8 per cent compared with June 2014, at 846 units. However, June motorcycle registrations were up 21.6 per cent year on year at 12,282 units. Overall, two-wheeler sales in June 2015 rose 19.2 per cent.
The year to date registration figures are encouraging too, with the sector showing sales over the first six months of 60,965 machines; a 12.9 per cent rise over the first half of 2014.
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