Nearly 15,000 attend as industry navigates net zero transition

The Commercial Vehicle Show 2026 brought together 14,991 visitors and more than 320 exhibitors at the NEC Birmingham, with attendance rising 15% year-on-year and exhibitor numbers up 30% compared to 2025. Co-located with the Bus & Coach Expo, this year’s event delivered a broader, more integrated view of the future of commercial transport.

Set against the theme “Fuelling Change: The Route to Decarbonising Road Transport”, the show reflected both the scale of ambition across the industry and the challenges that remain as the transition progresses. Following a challenging 2025, the sector continues to navigate slowing manufacturing output, policy uncertainty and the pace of zero-emission adoption.

While the UK’s ZEV mandate requires 24% of new van sales to be zero-emission by the end of 2026, current figures remain below this trajectory, sitting at around 9%. This gap framed much of the discussion across the show, with calls for a more flexible and pragmatic approach to the transition.

New models highlight innovation across an evolving market

This year’s show floor featured a wide range of new vehicle launches, reflecting both rapid innovation and growing diversity in the LCV market.

Ford drew significant attention with the public debut of the Transit City, while new and emerging brands also made a strong impression, with Farizon, Foton and Chery (through its Delivan brand) highlighting increasing global competition.

Additional launches, including Iveco’s eJolly and eSuperJolly, BYD’s first UK van, the Dolphin Cargo, and the latest Isuzu D-Max added further depth, underlining the mix of electric and conventional powertrains shaping the sector. Kia also showcased its expanded PV5 line-up with new variants, reflecting ongoing development of its electric van offering.

Together, this breadth of innovation reinforced the strong momentum behind zero-emission vehicle development across the sector.

Industry calls for flexibility and a multi-pathway approach

Across the seminar programme, it was clear that while progress is being made, adoption across commercial vehicles remains uneven.

Zero-emission uptake has reached around 22% in cars, but lags at roughly 10% for vans and just 1% for HGVs. Continued government support, including around £1 billion in grants, and ongoing consultations on future HGV, bus and coach strategy were highlighted as key to accelerating progress.

However, industry voices stressed the need for a more pragmatic approach. Electrification alone will not deliver the transition at the required pace, and alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biomethane were widely recognised as playing an important role in the short term, offering meaningful carbon reductions where full electrification is not yet viable.

Operators also highlighted the commercial realities of transition, with cost, infrastructure and operational constraints limiting the speed at which fleets can shift.

A broader transport conversation with Bus & Coach Expo

The co-location with the Bus & Coach Expo expanded the conversation beyond vans and trucks to the wider transport ecosystem.

Opening keynote and panel sessions focused on a “new era of buses”, setting the tone for a seminar programme centred on decarbonisation, infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration.

The combined event reinforced a clear message: achieving net zero will require a more joined-up approach across all vehicle types, supported by aligned policy and long-term investment.

A renewed sense of momentum

“Following the close of this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show and Bus & Coach Expo, it’s clear that the energy across the halls has shifted dramatically in the right direction,” said Nick Davison, Event Director of the Commercial Vehicle Show.

“There was a renewed sense of momentum and optimism that we haven’t seen in quite some time, and it was felt by everyone in attendance. This uplift is reflected in the strong growth we’ve seen, with more exhibitors on the show floor and a significant increase in visitor numbers compared to recent years. The quality of engagement has been exceptional, and it’s been particularly encouraging to see such high levels of interest from exhibitors already looking to rebook for 2027.

“We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved, but this is just the beginning. We’re already making big plans to build on this success and continue growing the show further and further, ensuring it remains the must-attend event for the commercial vehicle and transport sector.”