UK registrations of new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) declined by more than a fifth (down 22.2%) in November, with 23,570 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining the road, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The fall continued a contraction in fleet renewal across 2025, amid weak business confidence and a tough economic environment, with 11.4% fewer registrations than the same 11-month period last year.
November saw demand fall in every LCV segment, with large vans down 19.7% to 16,463 units – albeit still representing the majority (69.8%) of the overall market. Medium-sized vans fell by 20.5% to 3,976 units, while registrations of new 4x4s and small-sized vans also shrank, by 10.3% and 53.8% to 705 and 462 units respectively.
New pick-up deliveries recorded a steep decline for the second month in a row, down by 34.8% to 1,964 units, following fiscal changes to treat double cabs as cars for benefit in kind and capital allowance purposes. Industry continues to urge government to reverse the decision given the impact on fleet renewal in key sectors of the economy, undermining Treasury tax receipts while keeping older, less efficient and more polluting vehicles on the road for longer.
More positively, registrations of new battery electric vans (BEVs) returned to growth, up 25.3% to 2,909 units, accounting for 12.3% of the overall market – 2025’s highest monthly share. Growth has been impressive across the year, up 44.7% compared with the same period in 2024, with 27,159 registrations. Despite this performance, the year-to-date BEV market share stands at 9.4% – a significant distance behind the 16% share mandated by government for 2025.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Lacklustre light commercial vehicle uptake highlights weak economic confidence and slower fleet renewal means slower decarbonisation. While it is encouraging that zero emission van uptake is rising, the pace of change severely lags government ambition and every lever must be pulled to support demand and protect industry investment – both of which are essential to our shared net zero goals.”
