UK new truck registrations top 10,000 in the first three months of 2016

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Commercial Motor  /  May 26, 2016

Sales of new trucks grew by almost a fifth year-on-year in the first three months of 2016, with over 10,000 new vehicles over 6-tonnes GVW registered in January, February and March.

In the first set of registration data for commercial vehicles released by the SMMT this year (having previously reported sales every month) the market grew by more than 19% from 8,697 to 10,363.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “This is a positive start to the year for the heavy truck market, with demand having stabilised following the regulatory upheaval seen in 2014. Large rigids saw more moderate growth than at the end of 2015 – a sign that the sector is set for a continued, steady period of growth.”

Unusually, growth was driven by increased demand for rigids with vehicles above 16-tonnes GVW. This sector of the market rose 48% year-on-year to 4,299 units, compared to 2,903 in the first quarter of 2015.

Rigids between 6-tonne and 16-tonne were up 45% to 2,169, compared to 1,495 in Q1 2015. Combined, the rigid market was up 47% to 6,468 units (compared to 4,398 in Q1 2015).

Sales of tractor units however were down 9% year-on-year to 3,894 units (of which 3,521 were three-axle and 373 were two-axle).

In 2015 the split in the market between tractors and rigids of all body types was 49% and 51% respectively, but in the first quarter of 2016 the split was 38% and 63%.

For the first time the SMMT provided a geographic split in new registrations.

England, unsurprisingly, led the way in total volumes with 8,975 units registered, or 86% of the market. This was up 17% on 7,656 units registered in Q1 2015.

The Scottish market was up 41% year-on-year to 833 units, compared to 593 units.

Northern Ireland was up 29% to 292 units, while Wales rose 19% to 263 units.

Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association, said: “In addition to the overall increase of 19% in the UK in Q1, it is extremely encouraging to see that HGV registrations experienced a massive growth of 40% in Scotland, albeit this is a smaller market in terms of volume.”

Once again, DAF topped the market with a 31% marketshare, or 3,245 units. This was up 47% from 2,201 units in Q1 2015.

Scania was second with an 18% market share or 1,888 units.

Volvo beat Mercedes-Benz to third registering 1,239 units compared to the German manufacturer's 1,154 units. Mercedes-Benz saw the number of units it registered fall by more than a quarter (26%) year-on-year from 1,565 in Q1 2015.

MAN also hit four figures in the quarter with 1,030 units.

Iveco held a 7% share in the quarter with 760 units.

Renault steady at 5% and 489 units.

Isuzu had slightly above a 2% share with 239 units.

Dennis Eagle registered 155 units in the quarter, taking a 1.5% marketshare.

Mitsubishi-Fuso took a 1.4% share with 144 units.