Transport planning chiefs may be eyeing up the first hopeful signs of economic recovery in the UK, but demand for new vehicles and HGVs remains low, figures have shown.
According to the latest industry figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), commercial vehicle production remained low during September.
Despite seeing the rate of decline in new car output fall to its lowest level in twelve months as demand picks up, there was no such improvement for van and truck manufacturers.
In total, just 9,716 commercial vehicles rolled off the production line over the course of last month, taking total output figures for 2009 to 66,287.
SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt pointed out that this remains well below pre-recession levels, with little sign of any immediate recovery.
"The UK economy is slowly emerging from recession, but businesses remain reluctant to commit to large capital investments and this is reflected in low demand for commercial vehicles," he explained.
The downbeat production figures come despite the SMMT revealing a temporary boost for van and truck sales in September as both the new '59 plate and the end of the Euro 4 and 5 reduced pollution incentives made it a good time to buy.
