Recent news articles have reported on how the huge growth of online shopping in recent years has boosted the sales of vans in the UK to the highest they have ever been. According to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the increase in home deliveries for online shopping has brought about almost 100,000 vans being registered in the first quarter of 2015. This is a huge 22.3% increase on the same period in 2014.
Demand for Vans and Trucks Outpaces the Rest of Europe
The commercial vehicle sector has suffered the effects of the recession in recent years; therefore improved van sales show an encouraging turnaround. The SMMT have commented that the surge in van sales is a direct reflection of the growth in consumer confidence in the UK. Businesses, it seems, had been postponing the purchase of new vehicles during the recession. But now that UK households have started to spend more online on goods and services, businesses are buying new vans in order to deliver those items.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “As business confidence grows, demand for the latest vans and trucks is now back to pre-recession levels – outpacing the rest of Europe. Demand for vans is particularly strong as home deliveries continue to grow in popularity.”
The Increasing Popularity of Online Shopping
Online shopping has become increasingly popular in the past few years, with more and more consumers ordering goods and services from the comfort of their own homes, rather than venturing out on the high street or to retail parks. According to the consultants CapGemini, the internet now makes up almost a quarter of all retail sales, with online shopping become ever more easily accessible on devices such as smart phones and tablets. In fact, last year, online spending exceeded £100bn for the first time ever.
It’s great to see that businesses are once again investing in assets, and the increase in commercial vehicle sales is obviously a positive step forward for the automotive industry as a whole. This month also saw the arrival of the new ‘15’ number plates, which experts say has helped to drive new car sales in the UK to the highest they have been this century. The new car market has now been growing for an impressive 37 months in a row.
Van Insurance Comparison Service
The recent increase in van sales will also mean that more people than ever will be insuring their new vehicles, hopefully encouraging insurance companies to be as competitive as possible with their insurance quotes. It’s always a good idea to shop around for van insurance if you want to save money, and our quote engine enables you to compare a panel of 40 leading insurers to ensure you get the best deal. Once you have a quote and a reference number, you can even call us to see if we can improve it. Get a van insurance quote today.