- New light commercial vehicle market rises 1.1% in
February with 14,641 registrations.
- Uplift driven by demand for vans weighing more than
2.0 tonnes, offsetting weak pickup market.
- BEV demand rises again, up 42.2%, but remains well
behind the 24% mandate target for 2026.
UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations rose
by a modest 1.1% in February, with 14,641 vans, pickups
and 4x4s joining the road, according to the latest
figures published today by the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This was the second
increase in three months following a 12-month stretch of
decline, but February remains a small volume month,
coming ahead of the March plate-change and typically
accounting for just some 5% of annual
volumes.1
Growth in the month was driven primarily by the large van
segment, with registrations of vans weighing 2.5–3.5
tonnes rising 7.6% to 10,719 units, accounting for nearly
three quarters (73.2%) of all new vans registered during
the month. Demand for vans in the 2.0–2.5 tonne segment
also improved, up 16.9% to 2,477 units, while 4x4
registrations increased 64.0% to 269 units.
These gains were offset, however, by continued weakness
in the pickup market, which fell -54.9% to just 813
units, reflecting the ongoing impact of last year's
fiscal changes to benefit-in-kind and capital allowance
treatment of double cab pickups. Demand for smaller vans
also declined, with the market for those weighing under
2.0 tonnes down -15.0% to 363 units.
The shift to electrification continued to make progress
as battery electric van registrations surged 42.2% to
2,009 units, pushing their market share to 13.5% but
still well short of the 24% required by the zero‑emission
vehicle mandate this year.2 Diesel continued
to dominate, accounting for almost eight-in-10
registrations, highlighting the scale of the challenge
facing manufacturers and operators in transitioning to
zero emission fleets amid infrastructure, cost and
operational constraints.
In the first two months of the year, total LCV
registrations stand at 32,203 units, down -3.9% compared
with the same period last year. Despite demand for BEVs
rising by a third (33.9%) to 3,853 units, their 11.8%
share of the market is still less than half the mandated
target. Recent announcements such as the extension
of funding for the Plug-in Van Grant until 2027, the new
Depot Charging Scheme and proposed changes to planning
rules for private charger installations will all help the
transition, but natural market demand remains so far
behind regulatory ambition that the sector continues to
call for government to bring forward a review of the
transition, and the regulation governing it.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive,
said, “The van market's modest growth in
February is welcome, as is another month of rising demand
for electric models. Pickup registrations, however,
continue to lag given last year's fiscal changes, while
EV uptake remains far below the level required by
regulation, despite more than half of all models
being available as EVs and with massive discounts on
their sale. That is unsustainable and therefore requires
a wholesale review of the transition to ensure we have a
framework that is realistic, deliverable and affordable.”
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