NFDA Truck and Van Update

NFDA Truck and Van Update

May 2013

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/ ‘We represent, you benefit’
Dear Colleague,
The NFDA Truck and Van Newsletter contains information on the market plus other factors facing the sector.
If you have any queries or questions concerning any of the issues raised in this month’s update, please do not hesitate to contact us here at the NFDA on the contact details provided below.
I hope you enjoy this latest update.
Sue Robinson, Director NFDA Truck and Van
Tel: 0207 307 3599
Mob: 07774 107763
Email:
Twitter: @NFDASueRobinson
Steve Latham, Senior Operations Manager Truck and Van
Email:

IN THIS ISSUE:

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·  MIXED COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MARKET FOR APRIL

·  APPROVED ATFs - APRIL 2013

·  VEHICLE SAFETY RECALLS – APRIL 2013

·  SCANIA Q1 ORDERS UP 31%

·  CV OUTPUT FALLS DESPITE RISE IN HOME MARKET

·  ALL CHANGE FOR VOSA FEES IN WIDE-RANGING CONSULATION

·  BRUSSELS – LAWMAKERS VOTE TO LIMIT VAN SPEED BUT REJECT STRONGER CO2 TARGET

·  IF YOU SELL VANS THIS WILL AFFECT YOU

Mixed commercial vehicle market for April
There was good news for the van market this month as registrations showed a monthly increase of 43%, bringing the year to date increase to 17.6%. It was a different story for the truck sector as demand for heavy trucks was down 12.1% in April, resulting in a year to date decrease of 15.5%. In plain language, 8 more trucks were registered than last year.
As we expected to see an increase in sales of trucks occurring ahead of the more expensive Euro 6 trucks coming into the market in January 2014, these figures are disappointing. The economic situation has caused many operators and buyers to resist the temptation of buying new trucks and instead focus on keeping their existing vehicles well maintained.
However, van sales are encouraging and we believe this is down to the wide availability of finance offered by light commercial vehicle manufacturers. This is a business tactic rarely used by truck manufacturers.
What is interesting is how each sector of the van market is experiencing sales growth.
The largest market increase comes from the mid-range 2-2.5t products up 97.3% in April, almost doubling the sales of April 2012.
All sectors of the light commercial sub 3.5t did well in April including the maximum weight 2.5-3.5t vans up 37.8% in April and 13.4% year to date. These sell well to corporate businesses and large service providers and are the largest percentage of sales for CV dealers. Dealers who are van only or have van & truck franchises such as Mercedes, Iveco and Renault are weathering the mixed market fortunes better than those who only have HGV products and many of these are particularly concerned if the economy weakens further.
Approved ATFs – April 2013
Name / Location / Email address / Telephone number
SM Shepherd / Wrexham / / 01978 661844
Williams Transport / Llandrindod Wells / / 01597 822882
Chatfields / Stockton on Tees / / 01642 637660
Richard Yorke / Newtown / / 01686 627820
Lomas Distribution / Buxton / / 01298 25479
Plymouth City Bus / Plymouth / / 01752 264215
Gist / Faversham / / 01795 594210
Durham County Council / Durham / / 0300 0269342
Scania Q1 orders up 31%
Scania’s orders are up across the world and, more importantly in Europe, with a strong performance from the UK market. The company's worldwide orders are up 31%, thanks to strong growth in South America. Further positive signs were that European orders were not only up on Q1 2012.
CV output falls despite rise in home market
Commercial vehicle (CV) registrations might have risen in the first quarter of 2013 but weak export markets mean production has fallen by nearly a fifth. Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders today show that CV output fell by 18.8% in the first quarter (Q1), dropping from the 2012 total of 29,371.

Vehicle safety recalls – April 2013

Vehicle recalls for April 2013 are included in the list below.
VOSA Reference Number / Make and Model / Issue
R/2013/022 / Hyundai – Velostar with panoramic sun roof / Sunroof glass may shatter
R/2013/021 / Hyundai – Velostar / Parking brake may not release fully
R/2013/020 / Hyundai – i30 (manual transmission only) / Parking brake may not release fully
R/2013/023 / BMW – X5 4.8 l / Brake power assistance may be affected
R/2013/042 / Mercedes Benz – Antos 963 / Risk of brake failure
R/2013/015 / Lexus – IS200 & IS250 / Front wipers may become inoperative
R/2013/024 / BMW – 1,3, X1 & Z4 / Engine may cut out
R/2013/032 / Porsche – 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 / Tailpipe may become detached
R/2013/035 / Mazda – 5 fitted by MZ-CD 1.6 diesel engines / Fire may occur
R/2013/048 / Toyota – Corolla, Corolla Verso, Yaris, Avensis, Avensis Verso and Lexus SC430 / Passenger side airbag may fail to deploy correctly
R/2013/047 / Mazda - 6 / Passenger side airbag may fail to deploy correctly
R/2013/050 / Nissan – Almera, Almera Tino, Navara, Terrano II, Patrol and X-Trail / Passenger side airbag may fail to deploy correctly
R/2013/049 / Honda – Jazz, Stream, CR-V & Civic Coupe / Passenger side airbag may fail to deploy correctly
R/2013/046 / Volvo – C30, S40 & V50 / Loss of drive
R/2013/041 / MAN Truck – TGL and TGM / Control of vehicle may be affected
%l2003/052 / Iveco – Daily cab 4x2 / Braking efficiency may decrease

All change for VOSA fees in wide-ranging consultation

VOSA has launched a wide-ranging consultation into proposed changes to its fees which have implications for commercial vehicle, bus and coach operators. The proposals cover for services including retests, vehicle approval, tachograph calibration, operator licensing and the cross-subsidy of authorised testing facility by VOSA centres. VOSA says the shift in costs between ATFs and VOSA.

Brussels – Lawmakers vote to limit van speed but reject stronger Co2 target

The European Parliament’s environment committee on Tuesday (7 May) called for the installation of electric speed limiters for vans to prevent their accelerating beyond an agreed 120kph cap. But MEPs rejected reducing the 2020 target for van CO2 emissions to 118g per km.
Capping van speed will encourage the supply of smaller engines and reduce average van fuel consumption and emissions by at least 6%, analysts say.

If you sell vans this WILL affect YOU

EU Type approval has been within the the industry for some time. Last year it affected mini buses and coaches, this April (N1) light commercials up to 3.5t and next year it will be (N2 & N3) big commercials up to 12.00t and up to 44.00t.
It means that all CV must have full type approval so you can no longer put a body on a chassis cab without having it all type approved and most of the reputable body/coach builders have taken this into account but it will mean that the small bodybuilders may well not confirm and the completed vehicle would need an independent inspection called an IVA at a VOSA test station, so it is very important you know the bodybuilder you use for fitting drop-sides, tippers, box or luton van bodies etc; is certified for whole vehicle type approval on light commercial chassis-cabs.
The latest confusion comes from if you modify a vehicle that has complete type approval from the factory know as Conformity of Production (CoP), such as a panel van. Initially the industry thought these modifications would not affect the Type approval but it has proved that where the dimensions, weight and safety are affected the Conformity of Production (CoP), (type approval) is invalidated, therefore very recently the ‘N1 Enhancement Scheme’ has been developed by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).
IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT ANY MODIFICATIONS CARRIED OUT ON A VEHICLE AFTER THE DATE OF REGISTRATION ARE OUTSIDE THESE REGULATIONS.
It is important dealers check if any planned modifications is covered or not by this new regulation. These checks can be done via the N1 Enhancement Scheme document on the VCA website (N1 Enhancements Scheme (PDF 2.18MB)). Regular modifications like ply-lining, bulkheads, ladder racks and racking fall outside the regulations. However additional seating, additional glazing, tow brackets + wiring and changing road wheels are affected.