Registrations of vans in April fell 0.6% to 20,620 units, according to figures from the SMMT.
But year to date van sales were ahead 12.2% to 100,537 units.
And despite the flat performance in April the SMMT has revised its forecast for the year and now believes full year registrations will be up 11.2% to 301,300 units.
In February it through the full year market would be 277,900 units, a 2.5% increase over 2013 figures.
“Ongoing robust demand for vans continued the year-to-date trend in line with SMMT’s revised van forecast for 2014, a forecast that should see the market grow more than 11% on 2013,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes,
While sales of vans are prospering, truck registrations fell 24.9% in April to 2,718 vehicles.
“The overall market remained subdued, however, as the Euro-6 lag continued for trucks. Demand for HCVs is likely to remain behind 2013 all year, but volumes should recover as we approach mid-year.”
“It is disappointing to see that the commercial vehicle market declined this month following last month’s new 14-plate change”, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association
Dealers suggested that much of the short-fall was blamed on manufacturer bonus incentive periods ending at the end of March, hence many of them pre-registered a limited number of small vans to maximise their bonus incentives,” she said.
