New van market soars in January 2019 with 8.6% growth

The UK new van market followed on from the fourth best year on record in 2018, with an 8.6% growth in new van sales from January 2018 to January 2019, Vansdirect reveals all!

January new van registrations

Statistics released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed an impressive start to the UK new van market in 2019, showing growth of 9.6 percent in new van registrations for the month of January 2019 in comparison with the same period in 2018. This increase follows a decline in December 2018 which closed the curtain on the fourth best year on record for the UK new van market.

Small vans led the way last month, with a staggering 31.7% in new van sales, followed by pick-ups which increased by an impressive 13.4% last month. It was also a positive month for large vans which grew by 7.1% in January 2019, with medium vans the only casualties with a small decline of 3.9 percent in new van registrations last month.

Further fluctuations in demand predicted

SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes predicted further fluctuations in demand over the coming months and also pointed to the potential impact of Brexit on the UK new van market, stating:

"January's positive performance follows a mixed 2018, which finished on a particularly poor December, so some bounce-back was to be expected. Further fluctuations in demand are predicted over the coming months as the UK's post-Brexit future remains uncertain. Operators need stability to invest and renew their fleets, which now depends on government providing the right conditions starting with removing the threat of 'no-deal'."

January's best-selling new vans

Ford vans started 2019 where they left off 2018, with the two best-selling new vans in the UK last month in the form of the Ford Transit Custom and Ford Transit in first and second places last month respectively. Taking third spot was also the third best-selling new van of 2018 in the form of the Volkswagen Transporter.

Fourth best seller of January 2019 was the Mitsubishi L200, outlining the impressive month for pick-ups in the new van market last month. There was also room for another pick-up in the top ten last month in the form of the iconic Ford Ranger pick-up, the seventh best-selling light commercial vehicle of January 2019.

A fourth Ford van in the top ten took fifth place last month, the Ford Transit Connect, with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter having to settle for sixth place in the best-sellers table. The Citroen Berlingo took eighth spot, with demand expected to increase over the coming months for the small van crowned International Van of the Year 2019, whilst the Peugeot Boxer and Vauxhall Vivaro took ninth and tenth spots respectively last month.

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