Name: Vans.
Age: Between 100 and 200, if you count the word being applied to covered wagons in the 19th century.
Appearance: High-sided goods vehicle; traditionally white, but other colours are available.
What about them? They’re back!
From where? Well, they never really went away, but annual registrations of vans and other commercial vehicles fell sharply after 2007, and kept falling.
And then the Tories scrapped their “Immigrants Go Home” fleet. That must have been a blow. Undoubtedly, but the long decline is over: in the first quarter of 2015 there were 97,775 vans registered.
That’s a lot, is it? It’s the highest ever, representing a whopping 22% increase from the same period last year.
To what may we attribute this sudden surge in van demand? Online sales.
You can buy a van online? What do they deliver it in? No, I mean online sales of everything – phone covers, oboes, espresso machines, sheds, dog jewellery, candles and curling irons.
The bare necessities of life. Yes. You may order it all from the internet, but it needs to be brought to you in vans.
That makes sense. When I opened the door to sign for my new spiraliser this morning, there was some kind of van in the background. More generally, it’s an indication of economic recovery. Businesses that use commercial vehicles are feeling confident again.
Who says? Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “Demand for the latest vans and trucks is now back to pre-recession levels,” he says. “This year’s Commercial Vehicle Show promises to mirror this success, with a huge range of new products.”
This year’s what? The Commercial Vehicle Show, which happens to be taking place at the Birmingham NEC this week.
Is that why we’re celebrating quarterly van registration statistics, to promote the sector’s annual trade show? Maybe.
Anyway, it’s terrible news from a pollution standpoint. Not necessarily – from September, vans must meet strict new European emissions standards.
Do say: “Here’s the new Vivaro – full connectivity, flexible load space, Euro-6 compliant. How many shall I put you down for?”
Don’t say: “Or what about this one? Low mileage, full MOT, one careful owner. And I’ll paint out the “Immigrants Go Home” for nothing.”
