Recently we published an article covering our range of Explorer wheels and the exciting new introduction of our body kit and accessory range. We told you how you could completely transform your 4×4 pickup to become a very stylish and functional option to the standard manufacturers specification. An exciting opportunity to personalise your vehicle into a pickup that will certainly get noticed by other road users!
Our latest announcement is the Safari kit and accessory range has now firmly been incorporated under the Explorer brand, and in partnership with Truckman we can offer the superb range of Explorer wheels, rugged body kits and accessories to enhance the vehicle exterior and the fabulous range of Truckman hard tops and accessories to complete that transformation. Not surprisingly, given the explosion in pickup sales we are seeing a great deal of interest in our diverse range of pickup wheels, kits and accessories, which are now available for all major brands.
The rise in popularity of 4×4 pick-ups
Pickup trucks are certainly seeing a boom in popularity, so much so the UK is now firmly Europe’s No.1 market for mid-sized trucks. With daily growth in numbers of pickups being sold and not just as your typical workhorse, but also as leisure vehicles for those that want something a little more substantial on their drive.
The latest sales figures for pickups in the UK demonstrate how popular these vehicles are becoming. The study carried out by the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) demonstrates the sales of pickup trucks boomed in early 2017, up 30% on 2016. Sales dropped towards the end of the year, mainly down to economic confidence, which can be equated right across the market for all new vehicle registrations. However, the popularity of pickups remains strong with sales of pickups increasing as a percentage of new vehicle registrations. A total of 40,431 vehicles were registered in 2017, and although registrations are down generally in the motor trade, it is anticipated that the pickup truck market will remain strong in comparison to other vehicle choices.
The most popular brand is the Ford Ranger, with a 24% market share, closely followed by the Nissan Navara with 22%, Mitsubishi L200 with 19%, Toyota Hilux with 15% and the Isuzu D-Max with a healthy 11% of the market share. These top five vehicles make up 91% of the UK’s pickup truck new vehicle sales.
Other major car manufacturing brands are of course getting on board now, with Mercedes having launched the exciting X-Class late last year, and other brands looking to explore some market share with new releases planned for the future.
The future for pickup truck owners
Undoubtedly, many of us who are thinking of purchasing our first pickup truck or upgrading at some point in the future will have some concerns given the new low emission zones and higher taxes on diesel vehicles coming into force. However, plans are certainly in place for the pickup truck market with most of the major brands looking towards hybrid technology for their ranges.
As the popularity of 4×4 pickups continues, the choice of customisation will certainly continue, and Wolfrace Wheels are keen to make sure new pickup owners have a great choice of wheels, body kits and accessories to choose from.
At our premises in Maldon we can provide a full custom fitting service. You can choose from the exciting range of wheels, body kits and accessories we have available for the following vehicles:
- Mercedes X-Class
- Nissan Navara NP300
- Mitsubishi L200
- Toyota Hi-Lux
- Volkswagon Amarok
- Isuzu D-Max
- Ford Ranger
- Fiat Fullback
- Dacia Duster/Sandero
If you are looking to turn your pickup into a real head turner, be sure to contact our team at Maldon to find out more about our service.
