Law of unintended consequences: the German government’s scrapping bonus that boosted demand for new cars 21% in February and 40% last month also boosted private buyers’ orders for commercial delivery vans by 13% in March.
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Vans were already reasonably popular with private buyers in the country and many automakers offer ‘Kombi’ passenger-carrying versions with rear side and seats plus more car-like trim and equipment.
According to Reuters, citing German auto industry association VDA’s data, last month’s gains were driven by a 26% rise in orders for models like the Peugeot Bipper.
Germany new vehicle buyers currently can get EUR2,500 (US$3,383) from the state in return for junking cars nine years or more old.
However export orders for all commercial vehicles fell by more than half last month, leading to a 62% plunge for the first quarter, the report said.
More and more carmakers are adapting models such as the Life version of VW’s Caddy’s or the Renault Kangoo Bebop to cater to car buyers looking for more space and flexibility at lower costs, as trimming and interior features are often reduced to a minimum, Reuters noted.
Such vehicles are gaining popularity here in the UK, too, particularly with families with younger children (loads of toy storage space) and also with disabled buyers as there is plenty of room for a wheelchair and associated equipment such as a hoist.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles last month told Reuters that German demand held up well due to private buyers for the Caddy, the smallest model, and the Crafter built in a JV with Mercedes, whose equivalent is the Sprinter.
That success has led to further derivatives like the longer VW Caddy Maxi Life.
VDA nonetheless said new commercial registrations in Germany fell 16% in March, bringing the first quarter down 25% to 59,000 vehicles.
“Due to the dramatic plunge in demand in 2009, the commercial vehicle industry faces its biggest challenge in over 60 years,” VDA president Matthias Wissmann told the news agency.
