July commercial registrations hit 29,259 units, up 3% on July 2003. Registration growth continues, with year-on-year figures for three and six month periods to July up 7.1% and 8.2% respectively.

The rolling year total to July hit 378,413 compared to 363,687 for the whole of 2003. This is well above the 371,104 record for annual registrations set in 1989.

Since 1999, July CV registrations typically took 7.9% of annual totals. From 1999 to 2003, the average July total is 24,524. The 2004 July total of 29,259 broke the record set in 2003.

July % change 7 months to date % change
Total 29,259 3.0% 223,458 7.1%
Light CV's 24,485 4.1% 188,946 8.3%
Trucks 4,4426 -3.3% 32,022 1.1%
Buses & Coaches 348 14.9% 2,490 -5.6%


Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive, says: “As we expected, the commercial vehicle sector remains very strong, with excellent monthly growth through the year to date. The sector is on target to break the annual record at the year end, with vans setting the pace and today's interest rate decision is unlikely to affect CV registrations this year.”