The UK’s market for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) grew for the eighth consecutive month in August, witnessing a five per cent increase to 16,303 units. This data was released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) who revealed that the growth was primarily driven by medium-sized vans weighing between 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes. These saw a tremendous surge of 72.1% to 2,718 units.
Demand for 4x4s and pickups also saw a considerable jump, with an increase of 163.9 per cent and 22.3 per cent respectively. This translates to a combined total of 1,693 units. However, registrations for the largest LCVs, those weighing between 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes, fell by 5.1 per cent to 11,549 units. Despite this dip, these vehicles still constituted the majority of new van deliveries, accounting for 70.8 per cent.
Vans weighing up to and including 2.0 tonnes also witnessed a drop in registrations, down by 30.4 per cent to 343 units. Despite these decreases, year-to-date registrations reached 213,219 – marking a 19.4 per cent increase on the 178,626 total achieved during the same period last year.
Significantly, the numbers for battery-electric van registrations grew by 18.9 per cent to 1,122 units in August, claiming a 6.9 per cent market share. So far this year, a total of 11,414 zero-emission electric vans have been registered, showing a rise of 16.4 per cent on the same period in 2022.
SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, commented on these developments, acknowledging the positive growth in new van sales and the increasing preference for electric models among operators. However, he also pointed out that diesel models still account for over nine in 10 registrations, indicating the significant journey the market still has to make to fully decarbonise. He emphasised the urgency of this transition in light of the looming end-of-sale dates and a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
In terms of specific models, the top-selling LCV for the month was the Ford Transit Custom, which sold 1,791 units. This was followed by the Ford Transit at 1,426 and the Vauxhall Vivaro at 1,151.
Original article: Car Dealer Magazine
