November van and truck registration data from the SMMT show best rise of the year, at 22,834 and 32.5% up, to 253,244 for the rolling year.  Vans were up 26.1% to 19,128 in November and up 16.5% to 219,866 for the rolling year.  Trucks rose nearly 80% to 3,706 in November, though the rolling year total is still down 8.8% at 33,378.  That big rise versus last year follows the market distortion caused by people buying new trucks ahead of the move to Euro 5 in October 2009.  "Van registrations have grown since February, whilst trucks surged recently, led by three-axle tractor demand, typically for rental and contract hire work," said SMMT boss, Paul Everitt.  Next year will be "challenging" with some growth but with numbers "well down" on pre-recession levels.
More from Robin Dickeson on +44 (0)2 173 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk