LCV sales fall for sixth month running

Registrations of vans, 4x4s and pickups dropped to 22,796 units last month, down 11.8% despite fast-rising demand for electric vehicles, as revealed in latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures.

Downturns were seen across vans of all sizes. Large vans fell 14.0% to 14,652 units, while deliveries of medium-sized vehicles fell by 9.2% to 4,065 units and the smallest vans by 7.8% to 673. Only the new 4×4 segment saw growth, up 36.9% to 716 units.

The pickup segment, meanwhile, fell by 12.7% to 2,690 registrations. The decline follows two months of rises and shows the impact of April’s introduction of fiscal measures to treat double-cabs as cars for benefit-in-kind and capital allowance purposes. The SMMT continues to urge government to postpone the change for at least one year to give industry and customers more time to prepare, especially with the arrival of new lower- and zero-emission vehicles.

More positively, electric van uptake (up to 4.25 tonnes) grew 50.0% to 1,731 units in May – the seventh successive month of rising demand – but the market share of 7.6% for May and 8.2% in the year to date is half the 16% share mandated for 2025, although latest changes in the ZEV mandate are expected to help.

The SMMT said the Plug-in Van Grant continues to offer essential support for buyers, but also called for rapid investment in LCV-suitable charging infrastructure – at public, depot and shared hub locations across the UK.

The industry body also says preferential treatment for depot grid connections is vital, given the waiting time of up to 15 years – beyond the 2035 end of ICE sale date. It also wants consistent and efficient implementation of local planning policy for charge points.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “It’s positive that zero-emission van up-take is rising, but with market share at just half the mandated level, it’s clear we need action to drive that uptake faster. Accelerating LCV-centric and affordable charge point rollout is the bold next step that van operators and manufacturers need now.”