Light commercial vehicle registrations up nearly a quarter
UK new light commercial vehicle registrations rose 22% to 28,578 units in July, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The fourth consecutive month of growth took year-to-date registrations to 187,226 units, which is up 4.3% on the first seven months of 2025.
Large and medium-sized vans were up 29.9% to 20,842 units and 20.7% to 4,993 units respectively, while demand for 4x4s rose by 66.1% to 1,030 registrations and the small van segment grew 11.8% to 825. However, pickups declined for a 10th consecutive month, down 53.2% to 888 units.
The SMMT also reported that electric vehicle registrations rose 74.1% in July to take a record market share of 14.7%, while year-to-date market share is 10.6%, which is still less than half the level needed to achieve this year’s mandated target of 24%.
The latest market outlook has now been revised upwards with 316,00 units expected to be registered this year, a 0.2% increase overall on last year’s uptake, while zero-emission vans are expected to account for 11.5% of registrations, rising to 15.9% in 2027.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Continued van market growth shows operator resilience and sustained sector investment, while record battery electric van uptake is encouraging, proving businesses will switch if business conditions are right.
“However, multiple barriers are constraining the market – high capital expenditure costs, infrastructure challenges and, for pick-ups, fiscal disincentives. Rapid revisions to regulation and taxation are required urgently to spur the commercial vehicle fleet renewal essential to the achievement of net zero.”
