HGV market doing the heavy lifting
The new HGV (heavy goods vehicle) market in the UK saw strong growth in the second quarter of 2017, according to figures released by SMMT.
It found that 11,771 new trucks were registered, a 6.3% rise on the same period last year as manufacturers delivered several large orders to fleets in quarter two.
Figures for the first half of 2017 painted a similar picture, up 3.5% on 2016, with 22,177 registrations so far this year, the highest number for that period since 2008.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, ‘Commercial vehicles are critical to keeping our country moving, and with all new trucks featuring low emission Euro VI diesel technology and some of the latest safety and autonomous features, it’s great to see more of them joining British roads. However, while manufacturers have benefited from an increase in orders in this particular quarter, given the varying nature of fleet renewal in the sector, it is vital that government works to maintain the conditions that will give operators confidence to invest.’
Meanwhile, the SMMT also found that registrations of new buses and coaches fell -15.3% in the second quarter of 2017. It reports that 2,105 units were registered in the period, with demand falling for the second time this year following five consecutive quarterly rises in registrations.
