COMMERCIAL vehicle sales mirrored the success of the car market last month, reaching the third highest month on record.

Van sales leapt 14.5 per cent to 37,175 last month, pushing year-on-year growth up 4.6 per cent to 193,719, in a total market up 4.1 per cent to 239,686.

Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: 'September is close to an all-time record for commercial vehicle registrations. Van registrations were very good, particularly for heavy models.'

Sales for vans between 1.8 and 3.5-tonnes were up 17.8 per cent in September, compared with last year, at 24,765, while year-to-date sales were up 6.5 per cent at 125,134. For vans under 1.8-tonnes, sales rose 9.9 per cent to 11,260, up 2.2 per cent for the year to date at 62,267.

Growth in overall demand for the month was the strongest of the year, up 15.7 per cent, prompting predictions that 2001 will beat the 2000 sales total of 298,043 units.