As sales in the UK van market are up 5.9% for January 2020 compared to January last year for the second consecutive month according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), it's a positive time for the VW Transporter, Volkswagen's bestselling van.
The VW Transporter which has reported positive growth and sales numbers in 2020 has launched its sixth-generation model and while it is closely related to the previous VW Transporter T5 generation, there have been significant gains made in the areas of running costs, driver comfort and safety.
Speaking about the growth in the commercial vehicle sector, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said: "January's growth is welcome news for the commercial vehicle sector. Especially welcome is the increased uptake of alternatively fuelled commercial vehicles, essential if we are to address both climate change and air quality goals. The fastest way to do this is by encouraging uptake of the latest low emission vehicles, regardless of fuel type, and business confidence remains vital for this transition."
While the T6.1 facelift, which was launched internationally in 2019, but only began reaching UK customers in early this year is easily recognised by its sharper front end styling, which features larger grille openings, narrower headlights, and an increased emphasis on horizontal lines, it does also have a revised set of engines all of which meet the latest Euro 6D-Temp emissions regulations (also known as Euro 6.2).
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' most popular model, the latest generation also features a completely redesigned dashboard which has been designed to it feel more like a car inside. There have also been improvements to the driving experience, the option to add VW's very latest multimedia infotainment systems, which run on touchscreens up to 9.2 inches across and mechanical changes which include new electromechanical power steering, a number of new safety systems.
Typically, the second bestselling medium van in the UK which also routinely scores very highly in the annual FN50 van fleet reliability survey, the Transporter comes in a huge range of variants.
In general, this year small van registrations rose +5.9% in January after three months of decline towards the end of 2019 and this growth was caused by pent-up demand due to regulatory changes, as well as operators taking advantage of compelling deals on the latest models.
Small vans weighing less than or equal to 2.0 tonnes and mid-sized vans weighing more than 2.0-2.5 tonnes led the charge, with double-digit growth for both segments at +26.3% and +41.7% respectively. 4x4s experienced moderate growth of +6.3% while pickup registrations fell -9.7% and larger vans weighing more than 2.5-3.5 tonnes remain stable at -0.9%.
For the last twenty years, the VW Transporter has been the most desirable van in the medium van class, with the premium price tag and strong second-hand values to match. This desirability continues with the T6, which combines the solid and reputable underpinnings of the previous generation Transporter with some of the latest driver aids and safety systems from the Volkswagen passenger car division.
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