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New van registrations see a drop in June

New van registrations see a drop in June

A total of 33,066 new vans and light commercials were registered in June, down from 34,360 units in June 2023, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Published 10 Jul 2024By CV Show News

The automotive trade body said the scale of June’s decline was, in part, artificially inflated compared with 2023 – which saw the best June performance for four years as the industry met pent-up demand following Covid.

It also noted that the van market has recorded its best first half since 2021 – up 4.5% on last year to 177,620 new vans, pickups and 4x4s despite the June decline.

The latest figures show the heavier sectors of LCVs have increased, with 2.0-2.5t vans increasing to 7,169 units from 6,291 units, a 14.0% increase. The heavier and most popular-sized vans (2.5-3.5t) saw a decline to 21,677 units from 23,640 units, an 8.3% decrease.

June’s registration figures also show that battery electric van demand declined for the third month this year, down 16.8%, to 1,476 units and resulting in a drop in market share, from 5.1% to 4.5%.

BEV volumes are also down 5.1% YtD, representing 4.7% of the total market share versus 5.2% for the first six months of 2023.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said:

The best first half of a year since 2021 is great news for a market so intrinsic to economic growth, but this optimism will only continue if action is taken to re-energise zero emission van demand. The new government provides an opportunity to bolster the market with a strategy to grow the UK’s van-specific charging network at pace and maintain essential fiscal incentives to keep this vital market on track, without which our net zero ambitions will be at risk.
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