For August, van demand rose by 14%, while truck registrations were up by 20%, compared to August 2014.
“August’s registration figures are further evidence of the commercial vehicle sector's return to form in 2015 after a year of regulatory upheaval,” says Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive.
“With certainty now restored, fleet renewal patterns are returning to normal, buoyed by the continuing growth in demand for online deliveries.”
Ford says its own commercial vehicle sales were up to 4,155 for August, compared with 3,652 for the same month last year – and it took the top two van spots, with its Transit and Transit Custom sales.
“We are consolidating and growing our longstanding UK market leadership through continued investment in exciting products and industry-leading technologies. The sales success of our fresh and extended CV range underlines this,” comments Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director.
The SMMT also revealed a huge increase of 98% for the bus and coach market in August.
The surge in demand, it says, is driven by double-deck and converted buses, which notched up increases of 4337% and 100% respectively.