Floods provide boost for commercial vehicle sales

This summer’s appalling weather may have been bad news for holiday-makers, but it has provided a welcome boost for sales of both new and used commercial vehicles.

According to EurotaxGlass’s, the prolonged spells of heavy rain have contributed to an overall increase in sales over the summer months.

EurotaxGlass’s chief commercial vehicle editor, George Alexander, explained that vehicles damaged by floods would be subject to an insurance claim and probably rapid replacement.

He said where roads and fields were flooded; some owners will have seriously considered acquiring a more rugged commercial vehicle to cope with such conditions.

There has been a marked improvement in demand for double-cabbed 4x4s following an earlier period of price instability, continued Alexander.

However the boom is not expected to last and he goes on to say that the improvement in sales activity is unlikely to have any lasting effect on values.

What this unexpected and extremely localised blip has done is to soak up any additional stock that would have appeared during what is traditionally a slow sales period, he added.

In its latest report, EurotaxGlass’s also notes growing demand for LPG-powered vans such as the Vauxhall Combo, Ford Escort, Ford Courier or Citroen Berlingo.