Demand for new vans down

In July, new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations in the UK fell by 8.5% to 24,689 units, marking a significant decline from a strong July in 2023, while year-to-date figures remain up 2.7%, making it the best first seven months since 2019. The drop in demand affected most segments, with the largest vans down 12%, although demand for the smallest vans more than doubled. Meanwhile, battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations also declined by 14.6%, with BEVs accounting for only 5.1% of all new vans since January. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) emphasized the need for increased demand and improved charging infrastructure to meet upcoming government mandates requiring at least 10% of new van sales to be BEVs in 2024. Despite the downturn, the overall market outlook remains optimistic, with an expected 351,000 registrations for the year, a 2.8% increase from 2023. However, the BEV share of LCV registrations has been revised down from earlier predictions, underscoring challenges in achieving zero-emission goals.