New van and truck sales figures show month on month sales were up 17.7% on 2010 and up 23.7% on the rolling year.

The figures show an on-going recovery for the commercial vehicle market with May being the 16th consecutive month in which the market has improved.

Sue Robinson, director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association, which represents commercial vehicle and franchised car retailers across the UK and Northern Ireland, said: “The strength in the van market is coming from the 2 to 3.5 tonne market which is disguising the weaker van sales of under 2 tonne vans.

“Smaller vans are often purchased by private and self-employed individuals who are experiencing the same lack of confidence in buying as the consumers in the car market.”

Heavy truck sales were up again with the biggest growth coming from 3 axle tractors at 60.9%. Unfortunately the rigid truck market is static with only half a per cent increase year to date.

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