The UK’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) market marked its fourth consecutive month of growth in November, with registrations rising by 10.5% compared to the same period last year. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a total of 30,300 new vans, pickups, and commercial 4x4s were registered, making it the second-strongest November on record.

Growth was seen across nearly all categories: Small van registrations rose by more than 120%, reaching 999 units, while medium vans saw an almost 10% increase to 4,999 units. The large van segment, the backbone of many commercial fleets, recorded a 13.5% rise, with 20,504 units registered. Pickups didn’t fare as well, with registrations falling by 20.4% to 3,012 units. The decline in pickup sales reflects a challenging year for the segment, with further concerns over new tax changes set to come into effect from April 2025.

The month’s best-selling van was the Ford Transit Custom, with 4,335 registrations, while the Ford Ranger topped the pickup charts with 1,683 new vehicles on the road.

Electric Vans Gain Momentum

Electric van registrations took a positive turn in November, increasing by 36.7% to 2,322 units. This growth comes after several months of decline, buoyed by confirmation that the government’s Plug-in Van Grant will continue into the next financial year. Electric vans accounted for 7.7% of the market in November, up from 6.1% last year.

However, the broader uptake of electric vans continues to face hurdles. The government has mandated that 10% of all new van registrations must be zero-emission in 2024 — rising to 16% in 2025 — but the year-to-date market share of battery electric vans has dipped slightly from 5.9% in 2023 to 5.8% this year. Despite significant investment from manufacturers leading to half of all van models now being available as zero-emission, the lack of a comprehensive network of van-specific charge points remains a major barrier for many businesses.

Industry Urges Support from Government

The SMMT emphasised the need for practical and well-supported policies to enable the LCV sector to meet decarbonisation targets while maintaining buyer confidence and market stability. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, acknowledged the recent success in LCV registrations, saying, “The UK light commercial vehicle market continues to build back after a challenging start to the year, delivering the best performance since 2021 and the unleashing of pent-up demand,” but also highlighted the challenges: “Britain’s appetite for zero emission vans continues to lag behind government ambition, however, and market share this year is heading in the wrong direction. With warnings over UK competitiveness now translating into tangible impacts, a fast-tracked review of market regulation is essential to ensure manufacturers can deliver the choice, growth and decarbonisation the nation needs.”

The industry has welcomed the government’s decision to review the zero-emission vehicle mandate, with hopes that this will address the balance between ambitious environmental goals and the current market realities.

Phil Huff
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