LCV demand continues upwards trend

Britain’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew for the ninth month in a row in September.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, it was up 28.1% with 44,760 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads.

Year-to-date, LCV sales are up 20.8% with 257,979 units registered in the first nine months.

Meanwhile, demand for battery electric vans (BEVs) was strong in September with deliveries up 85.9% to 2,882 units – accounting for one in 16 new vans registered in the month. Year-to-date 14,296 electric vans have been registered since January, commanding 5.5% of the overall market.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Vans are irreplaceable workhorses that keep Britain on the move, so a bumper September capping nine months of growing fleet renewal is good news for the economy, the environment and society. Decarbonising this sector is fundamental to the wider net zero transition and, as vans are business critical, urgent measures are needed to grow operator confidence to invest now, in 2024 and beyond. In particular, the specific needs of van operators must be considered when planning public charging strategies.”