Skip to content
ADVERTISEMENT
News

Large LCV registrations up 7.6% in February – SMMT

Overall LCV registrations rose by 1.1% in February, with 14,641 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining the road.

2 min read
Share
Euro 7
ADVERTISEMENT

UK new large light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations – vans weighing 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes – rose 7.6% to 10,719 units in February, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Large vans accounted for nearly three-quarters (73.2%) of all new vans registered during the month.

Overall LCV registrations rose by 1.1% in February, with 14,641 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining the road.

This was the second increase in three months following a 12-month stretch of decline, but February remained a small volume month, coming ahead of the March plate-change and typically accounting for just some 5% of annual volumes.

Demand for vans in the 2.0 to 2.5 tonne segment also improved, up 16.9% to 2,477 units, while 4×4 registrations increased 64.0% to 269 units.

ADVERTISEMENT

These gains were offset, however, by weakness in the pickup market, which fell 54.9% to 813 units.

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 short of the 24% required by the zero‑emission vehicle mandate this year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Diesel continued to dominate, accounting for almost eight-in-10 registrations.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

The SMMT said announcements such as the extension of funding for the Plug-in Van Grant until 2027, the Depot Charging Scheme and proposed changes to planning rules for private charger installations will all help the transition, but natural market demand remains far behind regulatory ambition.

The sector continues to call for the Government to bring forward a review of the transition and the regulation governing it.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, 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.

ADVERTISEMENT

“That is unsustainable and therefore requires a wholesale review of the transition to ensure we have a framework that is realistic, deliverable and affordable.”

Related