Britain’s new gentle industrial car (LCV) registrations elevated by 17.7% in October with 26,342 of the very newest vans, pickups and 4x4s becoming a member of Britain’s fleets, in accordance with the newest figures printed as we speak by the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT). The expansion is a few 3.8% above pre-pandemic 2019 ranges¹ and rounds off 10 consecutive months of rising demand this 12 months, totalling 284,321 models. That is the best quantity for 2 years because the easing of provide chain disruptions implies that extra operators can extra readily renew their fleets.²

New van patrons proceed to go for payload and gasoline efficiencies, with massive vans – weighing better than 2.5 tonnes to three.5 tonnes – up 5.3% to 18,176 models final month, representing 69.0% of the market. Demand for medium-sized vans drove development, nevertheless, with deliveries greater than doubling, up 106.1% to three,801 models. There was additionally a soar in demand for 4x4s and pickups, up 61.4% and 41.1% respectively, whereas registrations of the smallest vans proceed to fall, -20.4% beneath final 12 months at 438 models.

Following a glut of latest battery electrical van (BEV) registrations in September, uptake was slower in October, down by a fifth (-20.2%) to 1,362 models – skewed compared with a very massive fleet order within the month final 12 months. In 2023 to this point, BEV demand has risen by 19.8%, with 15,658 models registered since January. These greenest automobiles characterize one in 20 (5.5%) new LCVs up to now this 12 months as producers proceed to make internet zero investments, having already delivered 27 completely different all-electric van fashions to market. Uptake charges might want to speed up, nevertheless, and because the Zero Emission Automobile Mandate comes into impact in lower than two months, authorities should pull each lever to stimulate demand.

The Autumn Assertion due later this month is a key alternative to ship a message that now is an efficient time to make the change, by committing to retain current incentives and useful tax frameworks for BEV patrons. Trying additional forward, it should additionally handle main limitations to mass uptake, notably by ramping up the rollout of public chargepoints which meet the precise wants of vans of every type and sizes. Moreover, by offering immediate legislative approval for driving licence derogations for LCVs weighing greater than 4.25 tonnes, will probably be simpler for fleets to spend money on the most important BEV vans, accelerating decarbonisation and bettering air high quality in each area of the UK.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Govt, mentioned,

Because the essential pre-Christmas supply interval commences, there’s a clear urge for food for fleets to be fitted out with the newest vans – and it’s of essential significance that these vans are the newest, cleanest zero emission fashions. With van makers dedicated to decarbonisation, the upcoming Autumn Assertion is the second for presidency to ship the suitable sign to operators forward of the introduction of the Zero Emission Automobile Mandate. Measures that handle van-specific infrastructure challenges and allow extra operators throughout the UK to make the change are important as we transfer in the direction of a pivotal stage of the transition.

With the van market having fun with 10 consecutive months of development, the outlook for the 12 months has been revised upwards to 332,000 models, a 1.4% rise on July’s outlook. Nevertheless, anticipated BEV registrations have been minimize by -9.0% on the earlier outlook to 21,000 models – nonetheless 26.8% above 2023 – to a 6.3% market share. Trying additional forward, 2024 is anticipated to see 334,000 new van registrations, with 34,000 BEVs exceeding 10% of the general market.

1 October 2019: 25,373 models.
2 January-October 2022: 235,962 models.

SOURCE: SMMT