Truck sales fall but electric HGV sales rise

The market’s fifth consecutive quarterly fall, with the market down 12.5% in 2025 to date, comes amid a challenging economic backdrop – but also reflects the natural ebb and flow of fleet renewal cycles following three years of sustained post-pandemic growth.

The contraction included reduced demand for tractor units, down by 2.2% to 3,966 units – but still representing two-fifths (42.8%) of the market – while the box van segment saw the largest volume decline, down 38.7% to 899 units. The conventionally lower volume tipper and curtain-sided segments also fell by 10.1% and 38.1% to 712 and 606 units respectively. There was growth, however, with demand for new refuse disposal trucks up 9.5% to 578.

More positively, new zero emission HGV uptake continues to rise, quadrupling by 341.2% to 225 units in Q3, a new record volume and also achieving record 2.4% market share. The significant quarterly demand has driven year-to-date ZEV volumes to 408 units, up 145.8% compared with the same period in 2024 – a significant achievement which reflects Britain’s position as Europe’s second largest zero emission.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “New HGV uptake continues to normalise amid a tough economic backdrop, so while another quarter of decline is unsurprising, returning to growth is important to keep businesses moving via the latest, greenest models. Industry continues to invest in zero emission rollout and rising operator uptake is positive – but more substantial volume growth depends on infrastructure rollout. Fast-tracking depot grid connections, in particular, is critical to help operators plan and invest – and for manufacturers to continue delivering the green growth Britain needs.”