The market for new heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) dropped every quarter last year, with 40,504 new trucks registered, down 10% year-on-year.
The new figures, published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), also show demand for tractor units was down 4.4% to 17,758 units in 2025 – albeit softened by 6.9% growth in the fourth quarter – to represent two-fifths (43.8%) of the market.
The box van sector saw the largest volume decline, down 28.1% to 3,949 registrations.
Demand for tipper and curtain-sided trucks also fell, by 11.1% and 26.2% to 3,076 and 2,820 units, respectively.
However, demand for new refuse disposal trucks rose 22.6% to 2,459 registrations.
Furthermore, the SMMT highlights a rise in zero-emission truck sales. They rose 170.5% year-on-year to reach 587 units – a new record.
The UK has, as a result, surpassed the milestone of 1,000 new zero-emission truck registrations, but with them representing just one in every 71 (1.4%) new HGVs sold, their market share stands at only 1.4%.
The SMMT says operators face tight margins and uncertainty on how to integrate zero-emission vehicles into their fleets, especially given delays of up to 15 years for depot-to-grid connections.
The Government, for its part, has improved the plug-in truck grant and introduced a new depot charging scheme to help more operators to switch.
But the SMMT says prioritising road transport depots for grid connections to charge electric HGVs, with the same fast-tracked planning processes as data centres, wind farms and solar projects, is essential to giving early adopters the clarity and confidence they need to transition.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The new HGV market continues to normalise amid economic constraints on fleet investment, but a return to growth in 2026 is needed so that UK businesses can keep moving with the latest, cleanest vehicle technology.
“Innovative new models are helping to lift the zero emission truck uptake but to unlock real growth, we need faster depot grid connections and planning approvals – only then can more operators invest and capitalise on the benefits of zero emission fleets.”
