The CV Show 2012 looks set to be a sell out with 35% more exhibitor stands booked than over the same period last year and new bookings are being taken on a daily basis. The 2012 CV Show will take over four halls of the NEC Birmingham from April the 24th to the 26th, covering some 44,000 square metres with over 400 exhibitors exhibiting, covering truck and van sales, service and repair.

David Crawford, sales manager for the Show at Crystal Communications, said,”Indications are that the industry is determined to up its game, despite the doom merchants in consumer media. With many new light and heavy vehicles launches coming and the oncoming impact of Euro 6 technology, there can be no better way for operators to keep up with what’s new in transport, logistics and distribution”.

If you are interested in finding more details of the CV Show you can either call them on 01634 261262, e-mail enquiries@cvshow.com or visit their website @ http://www.cvshow.com/webcontent/

American classic car

The recent Historics sale at Brooklands drew a vast capacity crowd with a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a piece of automotive and movie history. All lots from the the forthcoming Marvel Studios movie, Captain America -”The First Avenger” were sold, with 56 cars, commercial vans and trucks on show from the movie collection.

Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet

Some of the highlights were a 1933 Dodge Tow Truck, 1941 GMC Series 100 Pick-Up Truck, plus various American classic cars from Ford, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Chrysler.There was also an immaculate 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet for sale plus a white 1960 190SL as well.

For more information on the next auction, visit www.historics.co.uk

Trucks and Troops

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is playing host to Trucks and Troops from the 28th to the 30th May 2011. The show is being staged by the South Hampshire Area of the Military Vehicle Trust and will showcase the development of military transport, combat vehicles and soldiering through the ages.

Trucks and Troops

There will be over 200 military vehicles on show from push-bikes, armoured and tracked vehicles, Jeeps, Dodges, Austin Champs and of course Land Rovers, to name just a few.

The vehicles range from pre WWII to the Gulf War and visitors can also watch a wide range of activities including a parade of vehicles and live action from Rolling Thunder, a Royal Marine Cadet Field Gun display plus various bands providing musical entertainment.

The show will be open from 10.00AM every day, with plenty of free parking available and you can get further information from calling 01590 612345 or the website@ www.beaulieuevents.co.uk

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published the December and full year car, van and truck registrations with 2010 new car registrations up 1.8% on 2009. The 2010 car market rose by 35,847 units to 2,030,846 with the fleet market (25+ vehicles) rising by over 10%. Registrations in December fell by 18% to 123,817 units.

Private volumes slipped however due to the end of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme (SIS). The 2011 market is expected to decline by around 5% with a forecasted UK car registrations figure of 1.93 million units.

Here are some other highlights from the SMMT about new car registrations in 2010;

• Diesel penetration rose to a record 46.1% which was helped by the increase in MPV and SUV sales, which are usually diesel, and also due to the fall in private retail car sales due to the Scrappage Scheme, which tended to be smaller petrol models.
• The Ford Fiesta was the biggest selling new car in the UK for the second successive year and Ford was the best selling brand.
• In December however, Vauxhall was the best selling brand with the new Astra the best selling model.

Van and truck registrations

Van and truck registrations climbed by 16.4% in 2010 with full year up to 257,373 units and in December there were 20,260 registrations, up 25.6%. Vans were up by 21.7% to 17,086 in December with the full year figures finishing at 222,915, up by 19.6%.

However truck registrations rose by 51.6% to 3,174 in December with the full year down by just 0.8% and 34,458 units registered. Further details about 2010 vehicle registrations can be found at the SMMT website.

The Freight Transport Association has condemned the latest fuel duty increase of 0.76 pence per litre that comes into effect on the 1st January 2011. This will be the third rise in fuel duty since April 2010 and puts a further strain on operating costs of UK hauliers.

This fuel duty increase will push diesel prices to within four pence per litre of the all-time highs reached in July 2008, when oil prices were as $145 a barrel.  Diesel represents about 35 per cent of running a truck and this additional burden is likely to be passed onto customers, where possible.

The FTA’s Chief Economist, Simon Chapman, commented,”Diesel is not an optional extra for the industry. It is essential to keep shops stocked and businesses supplied with materials. Rises in fuel commodity prices have already left operators facing diesel prices nine pence per litre higher than a year ago-adding £3,800 per year to the bill of running an articulated truck. This latest fuel duty increase, together with those previously introduce this year will add a further £1,200 per year”.

If you are looking for the cheapest fuel prices in your area click here.

Ford Fiesta

Car registrations fell by 8.9% in September to 335,246, however the overall market remains up at 7.8% over the year-to-date position at 1,635,659 units. However if you take out the affect of the Car Scrappage scheme in 2009, the figure for September was 16.9% ahead year-on-year, and on a par with 2008.

The full market year is still expected to hold at two million cars, up marginally on 2009. The strongest performers in September were Fleet (25+vehicles), diesels and alternatively fuelled cars. Private registrations were down 19% at 170,951 and Business (sub 25 fleet) was down 8.5% at 18,269 cars. Yet again the Ford Fiesta topped the charts and was the best selling model in September as well as year-to-date.

Total commercial registrations were up by 3.7% to 242,908 for the rolling year with 39,942 vehicles registered in September. Vans were at 35,309 for the month and up 10.6% to 212,576 for the rolling year, however Trucks were down 28% to 30,332 for the rolling year, with only 4,633 registered in September.

• All data is supplied courtesy of the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders)

Classic cars

The Bromley Pageant of Motoring will be held at Norman Park, Bromley, on Sunday the 13th June with celebrations for the centenary of the Alfa Romeo and the 75th anniversary of the Aston Martin Owners Club.

The Pageant is a one-day extravaganza of classic cars, bikes, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, stationary engines and much more, with exotic sports cars through to thoroughbreds on show. So if you fancy a looking at Morris to Porsches, Mini’s to Ferraris, or Triumphs to Jaguars plus plenty of American Muscle then it could be a great day out.

Tickets for adults start from £10.50 for Adults and £4.50 for children, when booking in advance. For car entries, trade stands and general information you can call 01775 768661.

The SMMT has released details of the new vehicle registration figures for December and the 2009 year to date position. The main headlines are as follows;

New Car registration headlines

• New car registrations in December 2009 rose by 38.9% to 150,936 units.
• However full year registrations are down 6.4% to 1,994,999 units, the lowest level since 1995.
• The scrappage scheme accounted for over a fifth of all new car registrations in 2009 and is estimated to be 20.8% of the December car market.
• Average CO2 emissions fell again by 5.4% from the 2008 level, to 149.5g/km in 2009.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT said,”The December new car market was boosted by the Scrappage Incentive Scheme and consumers looking to avoid January’s VAT increase. The 2009 market of 1,994,999 new car registrations was significantly above early expectations and reflects the positive impact of the scheme, due to end in February.  

He went onto say,” Sustaining the progress made in the latter part of 2009 will require stronger demand from fleet and business buyers, alongside the greater availability and affordability of credit and finance”.

New Van and trucks headlines 

• Total registrations in December were 16,131 units.
• The 2009 figure was 221,132, which is 36.2% down.
• Van registrations were 14,037 in December and 186,386 for year, which is down 35.6%
• Truck registrations were 2,094 in December and 34,746 for the year – down 39.5% for the year.

Mr Everitt commented.” Van demand dropped sharply in 2009, though eased at the year-end. Truck registrations dropped further and faster in the final months of the year. Business demand and consumer confidence remains low and the effects of the recession will be slow to clear in key parts of the commercial vehicle markets”.

Full data is available off the SMMT website @ www.smmt.co.uk

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released the details of commercial van and truck registrations for November. There were 17,227 registrations in November, 225,234 for the rolling year which is down 36%.

- There were 15,164 van registrations for the month with 172,349 vans registered year to date.

- Truck registrations were recorded at 2,063 which brings the year to date registrations to 32,652.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT commented,”Although vans are down 36% on the rolling year the 0.8% decline in November suggests registrations have stabilised. Heavy trucks, down 60% in November, are still suffering badly as a result of weak business confidence”.

Latest figures from the SMMT show that the demand for vans and trucks is very low with only 9,386 registrations across the UK in August, which is 36.9% down year on year.

The rolling year at 242,118 is not much better, down 37.5%.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT said,” August van and truck registrations fell again.The truck and van markets face exceptionally tough trading conditions and uncertain demand. Businesses’ own need for new vehicles are well down too. We can expect van and truck registrations will stablise at around 45% down on last year.