European van sales up in March
Figures released by Acea, the European auto industry body, show an 8.8 per cent increase in new commercial vehicles registrations in the EU in March 2010.
The figures compare favourably against the same month in 2009 and represent the first registration increase in almost two years.
Van registrations were up 12.4 per cent to 160,980 units in March 2010 when compared to March 2009.
Of the most important markets, the UK recorded both the most vehicles and the highest year-on-year increase, at 28.0 per cent.
The news comes on the back of the 2010 Commercial Vehicle Operator Show, held at Birmingham's NEC this month and hailed as a success by exhibitors, including Renault, Peugeot, Fiat and Vauxhall.
"The positive response from exhibitors has been overwhelming", said Geoff Dunning, chief executive at the Road Haulage Association, representing the event's owners, the CV Show Partnership.
"And with over 300 exhibitors, covering every aspect of the UK transport and logistics industry, there was certainly plenty for operators to see and consider for future use."