The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders are predicting a tough second half of the year for commercial vehicle sales.

Van registrations saw a small increase of 0.1% for the rolling year to 204,514, which the SMMT described as “surprisingly good”.

With the new Government making statements about cutting projects and department costs, Sue Robinson, RMI director, said: “It’s understandable that business customers are hesitant about spending their cash or taking on a vehicle loan, business customers want the confidence to see the future business that will come their way before making large commitments”.

The SMMT is predicting brighter days in the commercial sector, with positive prospects in 2011.
Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: “While the forecast for 2011 is more positive, the prospects for the rest of the year are gloomy and we expect a near record low for trucks in particular. Fragile consumer and business confidence make the outlook for the next 18 months challenging.”