Latest figures show UK commercial vehicle manufacturing bounced back in August, with growth of almost 48% compared to this time last year.
However, the SMMT warns year-to-date volumes are still down 13.4%, driven by a 24.5% reduction in overseas orders.
New model production coming on stream positively impacted the monthly figures, which reversed four months of successive decline.
The SMMT said 5,544 units rolled off the production lines in August, nearly 1,800 more than in August 2018, making it the best August since 2012.
Output for overseas and home markets rose, by 71.9% and 17.3% respectively and although year-to-date home demand is up 7.5%, it represents around 6,500 fewer units than those made for export since the start of the year.
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Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said customers were responding to new model production and new “cleanest” vans coming to market: “It is still too early to draw any long-term conclusions that volumes will recover for the year, however, and crucial to future success will be keeping beneficial trading relationships with the EU and other global markets,” he added.
Meanwhile, CV registrations in the EU increased significantly in July and August, marking eight consecutive months of growth, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
It said the van segment supported the results, as truck and bus registrations fell sharply.
Despite the summer declines, the EU heavy truck market expanded by 7.7% between January and August.
